Scott Boswell’s A Wake centers around a family dealing with the sudden death of their son, Mitchel, and the secrets that come to light in the wake of his passing. Mason, his twin brother, seeks spiritual connections to his lost sibling, while Molly, the youngest, tries to maintain control by meticulously planning the wake. Their older sister, Megan, brings her own unresolved issues back into the family fold. As the family struggles to hold it together, Jameson, Mitchel’s boyfriend, arrives, confronting the family with uncomfortable truths about Mitchel’s identity and the homophobia he faced. The film sensitively portrays the challenges young gay teens in strict Christian households experience while offering a nuanced portrayal of a family in crisis.
Scott Boswell’s indie drama delves into a family’s struggles with loss, faith, and the hidden truths of their son’s life.
Scott Boswell’s A Wake (2019) is a heartfelt indie drama that masterfully tackles themes of grief, identity, and family conflict within a deeply religious household. The film centers on the aftermath of Mitchel’s death, as his family navigates their loss while confronting uncomfortable truths about his life. Mitchel’s twin brother, Mason, plays a key role as he searches for spiritual ways to reconnect with Mitchel, delving into psychics and Ouija boards in hopes of finding closure. The youngest sibling, Molly, organizes the wake with meticulous care, reflecting her desire to keep everything under control during this tumultuous time. Megan, the older sister, returns home after a long absence, bringing with her unresolved issues and a readiness to confront the family’s secrets.
Mitchel’s sexuality becomes the focal point when Jameson, his boyfriend, arrives unexpectedly at the family’s home. His presence forces the family to reconcile with the fact that Mitchel was gay, a truth they had either ignored or suppressed. The film does a commendable job of portraying the complexity of their reactions without demonizing them entirely. The father’s denial, the stepmother’s coldness, and the grandmother’s measured diplomacy all feel real and nuanced.
While the film effectively portrays the challenges gay teens face in religious families, it also highlights the limitations of that environment. Mitchel’s life was filled with homophobia, from his own family’s intolerance to bullying at school, leaving him with very little space to be his true self. This buildup of pressure, compounded by the lack of acceptance from his family, plays into the mystery surrounding his death — was it an accident or something more tragic?
However, the film has its flaws. Mason’s fascination with psychics and Ouija boards loses focus halfway through the film, and Jameson’s openness about his relationship with Mitchel feels somewhat unrealistic given the family’s strict beliefs. Still, these minor issues don’t detract from the film’s overall emotional weight.
A Wake shines in its sensitive portrayal of grief and identity, offering viewers a thought-provoking look at how families navigate the collision between personal truths and religious values. It highlights the struggles many young people face in similar environments and leaves the audience with a sense of empathy for both Mitchel and the family he left behind.
