The Truth About Jane

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256459/

I know from the start that I am not going to do this movie justice with a quick write, and many of you may have already seen it. (It's a 2000 Lifetime film). But I am so excited, having just watched it for the first time tonight.

Ellen Muth ("Dead Like Me"--which only lasted two short seasons, dang it) plays the lead role. She was probably 18 at the time of filming, but she convincingly plays a 15-year-old high school student who falls in love for the first time with another girl. Ms. Wolcott, the English teacher, is played by Kelly Rowan, who had a small part in a favorite BL film: Jet Boy. Noah Fleiss, from Josh and S.A.M., also has a secondary character role. There are some interesting connections in this film.

The Truth About Jane reminds me of some other favorite coming out movies: But I'm a Cheerleader, for example, or The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. We need more movies like these, and they should be shown to every 7th grade class (if not sooner). Along with You Are Not Alone for the boys.

There is a bit of after school special flare to the film, but overall the acting is excellent and the message is important. The one aspect that upset me some is the theme that it is difficult to be young and gay, or just gay, in our American culture. Which is true. But they should try being me when I was growing up, as a Girl Lover and a Boy Lover. And my life has not much improved.

I highly recommend The Truth About Jane.