“Eden & Charlie” is a tender romance from France

Queer trauma has been central to many LGBTQ films. From Brokeback Mountain to Philadelphia, stories about the hardships imposed on LGBTQ people from society have produced some of Hollywood’s most iconic and culturally significant works.

Recent projects like the film Bros and Netflix’s hit series Heartstopper have helped weave more queer joy into mainstream media by focusing less on tragedy and more on the beauty that can come with gay love. But there is still an important place for tragic narratives that offer honest portrayals of the challenges that can come with living authentically.

Eden & Charlie, directed by Duvette Benoit, follows two young men who meet and forge an unexpected intimate connection. The film sends them on a journey of self-discovery.

Charlie is a college student, while Eden is a talented photographer honing his craft. The photography element woven into the story makes for an effective premise. Eden’s artistic eye deepens their bond, and the film’s exploration of his creative process offers viewers a compelling look at the beauty that artistic expression can bring.

The wounds Eden carries — rooted in the shame he feels about his sexual attraction — are tragic, yet the film never lets his struggle become overwhelmingly bleak or reduce him to a victim of his circumstances. Charlie’s sweetness serves as a reminder of the importance of allowing love into our lives despite what the outside world may think.

Setting the story in a secluded countryside house, far from the noise of an urban center, is a smart choice that amplifies the film’s core themes. It gives the two men a chance to experience connection without any judgment or opinions from straight people.

The story feels artsy and fresh, using a wounded horse as a metaphor for the trauma we all face. Its focus on healing — and on refusing to let shame keep you from embracing your queer attraction — stands out as one of the film’s most beautiful elements.

The way Eden struggles with the pain inflicted by family members for simply being himself feels deeply relatable to the experiences many queer men face in the real world. The film carries a tender quality, revealing the power that love can hold even in the midst of pain — something the best romantic dramas capture, and Eden & Charlie does well.

While Eden & Charlie may not rise to the ranks of the most memorable queer love stories of recent years, never striving to feel epic, it remains a touching and intimate portrayal of two young men learning to accept themselves and the love before them. It is a simple, old-fashioned romantic drama — something we see less and less today. The film is full of stillness and quiet beauty, and its dramatic moments never feel over the top. It often feels as though you’re being given an inside look at a sweet romantic encounter that closely mirrors real life — one that allows for healing and true acceptance, all things that gay relationships can also provide in the real world.

4/5 stars.