IRON LAKE

Iron Lake tells the story of a closeted gay teenager, and the subsequent guilt that he feels when he finally acknowledges those feelings and lets them out. It was born out of my own feelings and experiences (not literally) as a teenager, feelings that still reverberate today. I was raised in a very religious and traditional household, and my first memory of learning about homosexuality—before I even knew that I was gay—was of a family member strongly telling me that it was wrong. Years later, when I realized that I myself was gay, I developed a deep-seated sense of shame, fear, and loneliness. 

With Iron Lake, I have tried to honor the feelings and fears of that scared teenager I used to be. Even if many in the audience cannot relate directly to the character’s shame surrounding his sexuality, the theme of the film resonates more broadly than just sexuality. Everybody—at times—is afraid to reveal their true selves to others, out of a belief that if others knew what they were really thinking and feeling, they would abandon them.

Why another closeted story? In Hollywood, there is often a sentiment that we’ve moved on from telling closeted stories. Many people, including many gay filmmakers, only want to portray gay relationships as if they’re happy and normal and common. And those stories are great. But it is a horrible mistake to only limit ourselves to those stories.

It is still illegal to be gay in one third of the world’s countries. There are numerous students even at the AFI Conservatory who cannot come out to their families back home. And even in the US, although the loudest people may have moved on, they’ve left behind so many people who have not. Around the country, yes, but also right here in Los Angeles. People who are not ready to come out, because of family, cultural attitudes, religious beliefs, or any number of reasons. I know many of them personally, and it is an awful error to silence their stories. Iron Lake is one such story.

—Grant Swanson
Director, Writer