Saints + Sinners

One of 2004's most effective, intelligent, mature, and romantic love stories is actually a documentary. Abigail Honor's Saints + Sinners focuses on Edward DeBonis and Vincent Maniscalco, a gay couple in New York who want a Catholic marriage. Their proposed union is not being presented as a political statement, but rather as a sincere affirmation of their seven-year relationship and desire to share the sacred vows of matrimony. Over the course of the film, the couple and their priest detail the special challenges facing this particular union. For DeBonis, it was a long and rocky road in coming to terms with his sexual identity, as he flip-flopped between the gay and straight worlds, even marrying a college sweetheart at one point. For Maniscalco, the path was less bumpy, though he faced last-minute potential humiliation when his family abruptly decided not to be part of his wedding. Hostility from the men's church also weighs heavily—and a neighborhood Episcopalian church happily opened its doors when the local Catholic parishes refused. Treating an emotional issue with reason and intelligence rather than sensationalism, Saints + Sinners is a warm, beautiful, and ultimately triumphant film. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)