The Twilight of the Golds

A provocative spin on the debate over genetic testing, The Twilight of the Golds asks a question which could make plenty of folks uncomfortable: what would you do if you knew your unborn child was likely to be gay? That's the dilemma facing Suzanne Gold Stein (Jennifer Beals), a young mother-to-be from an average American Jewish family. Complicating the matter further is the fact that Suzanne's brother David (Brendan Fraser) also happens to be gay, and is understandably troubled by what the family might have decided had the same technology existed 30 years earlier. Though fairly predictable in its tele-film rhythms, The Twilight of the Golds is well-acted by all, notably the seldom-seen Beals. The familial confrontations may be forced, but the emotions are potent; it's hard not to wince when you watch a father tell his gay son, "I think your diseased, and if there was a cure, I'd want you to get it." Mostly, however, it serves to prick viewers to ask themselves difficult questions about what they expect when they ask for a "normal, healthy baby." That some viewers will wonder what all the consternation is about, while others will be torn by the question, says a lot about the strong feelings this issue engenders. A strong optional purchase. (S. Renshaw)