The Miseducation of Cameron Post, written and directed by Desiree Akhavan - 8 out of 10

The Miseducation of Cameron Post, written and directed by Desiree Akhavan
8 out of 10

This remarkable motion picture has won The Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
That award attests to the film's value and it also states that as an independent production, there will not be many viewers in the cinemas...but it will be if it isn't already available on HBO, Netflix and other channels.

Just a few decades ago, in my land and elsewhere people knew very little about homosexuality.
Never mind aspects of what they had to go through in societies that not only did not tolerate, but punished and jailed them.

Indeed, in countries like Saudi Arabia they still do not accept that and oh so many other features , like criticism...they have just killed and then cut into pieces a journalist- Kamal Kashoggi is the name?- for holding on to views that are not shared by MBS, the crown prince.

Chloe Grace Moretz is very good in the leading role of Cameron, a teenager that has to suffer a lot for her feelings.

One night, she sits in the back seat of a car with a friend and they start embracing, kissing each other.
A door opens and tragedy would strike.

This is not because a mad killer wants to kill them, but this will be a slow, terrible torture.
As a supervisory authority would send an envoy, Cameron would talk about Moral abuse at one stage.

Since she was foundling a girl, the heroine is sent to a strange, ghastly "rehabilitation center".
This 1993, albeit conservatives, retrogrades, talibans would like and probably have such horrible places today.

Based on religious reading, prayers and the repeated false statement that being gay or lesbian is a disease, "therapists" at this place think they will change nature and send back into the world heterosexuals aka "normal human beings".
Most of the young "patients" are confused and for some, this aggressive, dangerous "treatment" has devastating effects.
Some scenes are both somewhat amusing and bizarre...

Cameron's roommate wakes her up one night, starts kissing, passionately making love to her, only to reject all that happened afterwards, partly brainwashed by all that malevolent "therapy".
A tragic incident happens after one young man is still rejected by his father.

In a scene that reminds one of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - where the terrible nurse humiliated the inmates in various ways - this young homosexual explains how his parent wrote that he does not want him home, for he is still too effeminate and he would not have that in his home.
Much like the protagonist in The Cuckoos' Nest, who has committed suicide, in The Miseducation this haunted, abandoned man tries to cut his genitals with a razor.

After this calamity, there is an inspection that is meant to establish if there is abuse in this outrageous "conversion center".
When asked, Cameron tells the truth, explaining that they are not hurt, physically attacked.

But when the issue of trust is put forward, there is a whole different ball game.

Do you trust those working here?
Not really... I mean, yes, I trust them to drive the bus safely, buy food, but not in another sense.

Finally, she goes to the Heart of the Matter, like the character in the Graham Greene masterpiece.

Do they abuse you?
Physically, no
What do you mean?
When people keep explaining how you must hate yourself for what you are, that is Emotional Abuse.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a powerful, thought provoking, intelligent, well acted film.