Lost Coast, The

By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Sep 21 2011

Artful and melancholy, The Lost Coast is a distinctly American take on a European art film. Taking inspiration from Antonioni, Truffaut and Godard, director Gabriel Fleming has created an intimate film overflowing with emotions. Friends since childhood, Mark (Lucas Alifano), Jasper (Ian Scott McGregor) and Lily (Lindsay Benner) are now in their mid-twenties with their identities shaped, yet they still retain plenty of rough edges. Buried in their past is a high school camping trip where Jasper and Mark had some hot nighttime tent action. Jasper now identifies as straight and wants nothing to do with even the memory of that night. Gay Mark remembers the night fondly and holds it close to his heart. Mark's roommate Lily just wants the trio to deal with it. Getting together for a San Francisco Halloween parade on Castro Street, the trio enters a world of wildly costumed crowds and sexual confusion as the story resurfaces and emotions are laid bare. The tension builds and the three old friends decide to find some Ecstasy to break the dark mood. It is during this search that the reminiscing takes the trio down a path from which they can't return.

Shot with elegance and precision, Gabriel Fleming's artful film will reverberate in your soul.

By: avid watcher

After the first several minutes I realised I'd rented this a couple years back - and obviously didn't remember. The 2nd viewing reminded me why: I couldn't find a coherent narrative worth following. I sped through it this second time, and remembered the frustrated highschool love idea, but I was left unmoved. Nice concept of Castro Hallowe'en as backdrop - but I lost interest in waiting for the big reveal.

By: Greggy

As in poorly written, poorly directed (the doofis director actually said he didn't know what his film was about!), unevenly acted, and not worth anybody's time. You will notice none of the 'reviewers' ever mentions he likes this piece of crap. Be warned!!

By: just a reviewer

Writer/Director Gabriel Fleming gives us a trio of former high school mates (plus one more who's a tagalong or everyman, perhaps representing we viewers). They reconnect on a current-day Halloween night in a search for fun and (and old feelings). While doing so they relive a high school period visit to Northern California's Lost Coast (yes, there is such a place---just look for yourself on Wikipedia). Making up our little trio we have gay Mark and "straight" (ha, ha, ha) Jasper, both in the company of fag-hag-DON'T-wannabe, Lily, who would give just about anything to convert our Mark to her hetero lifestyle. Howsomever, little Markey-Mark would love nothing better than to make a reticent (ha, ha, ha) Jasper forget that he (J) is trying way too hard (oh, you don't see it either) to "be straight." Yes, Mark's in love, and his feelings for Jasper are about to do him in. On the other side of this twosome coin, we have big, confused Jasper who spends part of his time, at various stages of the film, writing an email to fiancée (yes, I did say fiancée), Wendy. Therein he tries to explain the "small mistake" he made in consorting with Mark during their high school days (although, however will he explain his similar behavior during the group's latest seashore visit).

In his words to Wendy he's very adamant that his past behavior means nothing now (even tho we viewers are witnesses during this second visit to the Lost Coast, as Jasper both kisses and masturbates Mark). And while to us actions are stronger than words, perhaps it's his cleaning his cum-covered hand with area sand which throws Mark into an emotional downspin. So, here we are at film's end, seeing group members go their way, and we're left with a tearful Jasper wondering what the hell his orientation really is. BUT at the same time we do get to listen in as he finishes up his "forgive me---it meant nothing" email to an innocently unknowing Wendy. Wait....wait, there's more. Thanks to our director in his film's very last frame, who should we see smiling up at us while comfortably reading on a couch, but the sweet looking young woman, herself.....completely unaware that life is about to be ruined by a man who cannot admit what he wants and who he really is.

By: Garlic Toe

By: Marty

By: Amos Lassen

"The Lost Coast"

A Quiet Character Study

Amos Lassen

Jasper who is straight, his best friend Mark who is gay and Lily, a straight girl took a trip to the north of California where nature ruled. The three high school students acted there with no reservations. There was a homosexual act between Mark and Jasper and it is still fresh in Jasper's memory as he prepares to marry.
Several years later the three come together again to celebrate Halloween in the Castro of San Francisco and they want to take a little ecstasy to heighten their experience and this leads to Jasper beginning an email to his fiancée and to confess his past. Here is a story told in real time about three friends who have memories of an unspoken sexual past that comes back to haunt them. Each character must face his own fears and beliefs.
The opening photography is stunning while being simple. The music haunts the viewer and the characters unfold in front of us. This is an indie, low-budget film which focuses on the naturalism of the actors. We go on an interesting journey but we reach no destination. Yet we do meet unforgettable characters who are facing real issues in their lives.