Out Late

Co-directors Jennifer Brooke and Beatrice Alda's moving documentary Out Late tells the stories of five people who came out of the closet late in life, blaming fear and ignorance—both their own and that of their friends and relations—for their situation. Eighty-one-year-old Elaine, who revealed her sexual preference at 79, knew she was gay early on, but homosexuality wasn't acceptable in her Florida community, so she married, had children, and never learned a trade, thus binding herself to her husband financially. After he died, she claimed her real identity, but she hasn't been able to find a long-term relationship—unlike Walter, a devout Christian who came out at 60 and met his partner in a quilting group. Ken also waited until after the death of his spouse, to whom he'd been married for 47 years; now 75, he's found support in cosmopolitan Toronto. On the other hand, conservative Kansas is home for 59-year-old Cathy, who's had a partner for 24 years but just acknowledged her homosexuality at 57; her state's anti–gay marriage amendment galvanized her to take action. The last subject, 68-year-old Leanna, waited until she was 60 to transition from male to female, fulfilling a wish that she'd long suppressed because the time was never right, particularly while she was serving in the Navy. DVD extras include a directors' statement and a resource guide. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)