Song of the Loon

Synopsis:

Taking place in the American West of the 1870s, a young man named Ephiram is in the wilderness fleeing a vicious male lover. He runs into Indians and the hunky Cyrus Wheelwright. Ephraim begins to realize he’s gay, but has trouble coming to grips with it because of his ex. Can Cyrus and some Indian mystics help Ephiram realize that being gay is not bad?

Quick Thoughts:

This 1970’s film in an adaption of Richard Amory’s 1966 novel Song of the Loon. While I have not yet read the novel, many list it as one of the most important books of the 20th century, and this film adapation is equally one of queer cinema’s classics. Some even consider it one of the first true coming out stories shown on film! While there are some major issues with the film, such as the very obvious casting of white Europeans to portray Native Americans, questionable seventies art film techniques, and low budget, “Song of the Loon” takes a rather innocent approach to regards to accepting one’s homosexuality. The Loon and the Native Americans in the film have no qualms about loving men, or even loving more than one man. With a few soft-core sex scenes and gratuitous frontal nudity, I found this queer western film enjoying to watch. The pacing might be slow, and a few critics remark that you should read the novel first, I highly encourage you to find yourself a copy and enjoy “Song of the Loon”.