THE PLOT THUS FAR
In this documentary, Gay American writer Robert Drake returns to the small town of Sligo from his home in Philadelphia, in an attempt to revisit the memories of his time in Ireland. Twelve years have passed since he was the victim of a violent and bloody attack by two local men there. Can he lay the past to rest? Can he forgive the men who attacked him? Will going back to where the drama began trigger his memory of the actual events?
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Where I Am” asks how can a victim ever truly forgive his/her attackers. Robert Drake could’ve been the next big writer, but he was left brain damaged by two young thugs. There was no reason for the attack and Drake should count himself lucky that he survived. But, this isn’t a history. It’s a look at how an individual can take solace in their existence, while acknowledging their worst parts of their life.
Robert Drake is quite the interesting figure. While I’m not super familiar with his work in gay literature, I respect how he handles himself. Drake isn’t quick to forgive, however he realizes that there has to be some way to move forward. The past is real and Drake has a right to be angry. It’s a problem that is almost unique to his minority group and he has the right to be confident and secure. That being said, the documentary feels like it is pushing for a dramatic confrontation. That isn’t what I expect from a documentary.
The DVD comes with no special features. The A/V Quality is pretty sharp with a decent Dolby 2.0 surround track. There’s no back channel action, but it doesn’t matter. All of the dialogue stays upfront and it is pretty crisp. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.
RELEASE DATE: 01/14/2014