Cheap It's In The Water (DVD) (Kelli Herd) Price

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Customer Reviews of It's In The Water

Rarely have I seen any production (film, television, stage) that accurately portrays the South, much less what life is like for a lesbian from a socially prominent family in a small southern town. Though some of Kelli Herd's characters may seem bigger-than-life (Hell, it is Texas, after all!), let me tell you that characters like these truly exist in my home town -- maybe even in yours.

Though set in the South, this has been an audience favorite at festivals the world over. It is truly one of the best films I've seen in years. Let's hope that we see more from first-time filmmaker KELLI HERD!

In the Water, Into your Hearts
Independent movies, by their nature, aren't meant to be big Hollywood blockbusters. The reason they are so popular is that they concentrate on the depth of characters rather than a bunch of mind-numbing special effects or a big movie star. Certainly nowadays, independent cinema has imporved tremendously in all arenas. It's in the Water is typical of that independent film made truly independently.

Made and directed lovingly by Kelli Herd, It's in the Water tells the story of Alex Stratton, trapped in a loveless marriage due to the expectations of her family and the town she lives in. Reacquianted with her old best friend Grace Miller, she begins to question herself and who she is. Herd throws into the mix a crazy cast of characters, from a domineering mother Lily, to glorious drag queens, all adds up to a film that's both fun and heartwarming.

Offering a more inclusive story, Herd includes men coming out on their own terms as well. Mark Anderson is a man struggling with coming to terms with his homosexuality and attends a hilarious group "Homo No Mo" group, only to meet the incredibly sexy Tomas, a painter with a heart of gold. Both Derrick Sanders and timothy Vahle should be commended on their honest and touching portrayal of two men coming out and into each others arms. I liked seeing a "lesbian film" more inclusive; a route more "gay men" films need to do as well.

Herd manages to tackle with her short hundred minutes of film the insanity of small town thinking, ex-gay ministry groups, religious hypocrisy, and AIDS. She manages to do it without the usual preachiness and brow beating that this film could have become. By keeping the film from becoming too serious, the messages hit home more strongly. By the end of the film, with it's absolutely stunning choir rendition of "I'll Fly Away" sung by the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ Choir, you are carried away with everyone as well.

Especially fun on the DVD was listening to the commentary track done by Ms. Herd, and the films two stars, Keri Jo Chapman and Teresa Garrett. Offering many insights and fun stories, listening to them was almost as enjoyable as watching the film itself. You can tell from their comments that this movie truly was a labor of love.

I highly recommend this movie. Don't take it too seriously, but allow yourself to be carried away to Azalea Springs, and while you're there, go ahead and drink the water.

Cheesey
While I appreciate any and all lesbian movies, simply by virtue of the fact that there are so few of them, this certainly wouldn't fit into my Top 10 list. Cute but terribly corny and predictable. The dialog and acting leave much to be desired. I'm glad to have seen this "classic" lesbian flick, but there are much better movies out there: Fire, Lost and Delirious, The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, Go Fish, Better Than Chocolate, among others.