Institute History
Description
Every few years, a film appears that portrays the relationships among a group of friends, capturing the exact spirit of the time (Diner, The Return of the Secaucus Seven, and The Big Chill, just to name a few). The tradition continues with The Broken Hearts Club. In this debut feature by Greg Berlanti, the twist is that the characters are all gay.
IN the palm-shaded oasis of West Hollywood, we meet Dennis, a promising photographer. As he prepares to celebrate his twenty-eighth birthday, he laments, "I can't decide if my friends are the best or worse thing that ever happened to me." The gang includes Benji, the punkish innocent with a penchant for gym bodies; Howie, the psychology grad student who thinks too much and lives too little; Cole, the charismatic actor who accidentally keeps stealing everybody's guy; Patrick the cynical quipster, and Taylor, resident drama queen, who, until recently, prided himself on his long-term relationship. Providing sage advice and steady work is Jack, the beloved patriarch whose restaurant is a haven for them all.
If any of the characters sound familiar, they are intended to. Berlanti has risen to the challenge of representing a specific lifestyle in all of its vicissitudes. These characters are real people, funny, flawed and vulnerable, struggling with dating, breakups, jealousies, and just making sense of their lives. When tragedy strikes the group, the friendships are put to the test. In the end, Dennis is left to discover the answer to his own question.