with my co-writer and producer who is from here. I was visiting more and more often so decided to make it my permanent home. How did you react whenThe Miseducation of Cameron Post won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance? I was shocked but pleased and I was really excited


and grateful. You don’t expect something like that, well, at least I didn’t. I had never won anything big before in my life. (Laughs) What has been the public reaction to your film? I’ve gotten a really positive response. People are


really nice...at least to my face. (Laughs) Strangers have told me they could really relate to it, which is exciting. Both queer and straight people have responded well to it, including my family. They loved it and they’re all straight. Was the novel or your approach to adapting it autobiographical at all? The novel was not autobiographical. My approach


BEHAVIORAND MISEDUCATION by chris carpenter


APPROPRIATE


DESIREE AKHAVAN


MY APPROACH WAS A LITTLE PERSONAL


IN THAT I SPENT TIME IN A REHAB CENTER AND IN GROUP THERAPY.


I COULD RELATE TO THOSE ASPECTS AND WANTED


TO DEPICT THEM REALISTICALLY.”


Desiree Akhavan made a splash at Outfest in 2014


with her feature film debut,Appropriate Behavior. She returns this year withThe Miseducation of Cameron Post, which will serve as the Closing Night Gala screening onSunday, July 22.An adaptation of Emily M. Danforth’s celebrated YA novel, it was awarded the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, in part for its sincere exploration of religion along with well-intentioned queer characters. Set in 1993, the plot centers on lesbian teen Cam-


eron (played by the luminous Chloë Grace Moretz of theKick-Ass movies). She is sent to a Christian conversion camp after she gets caught having sex with her female best friend. At the camp, Cameron reluctantly undergoes various tactics used to “cure” same-sex attraction from persistent faith leaders Dr. Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle) and Reverend Rick (John Gallagher Jr.), who are intent on “saving” LGBTQ teens from their “sinful” lifestyles. Cameron eventually forms a resistant alliance with the rebellious Jane (Sasha Lane,American Honey) and two-spirit Adam (Forrest Goodluck,The Revenant). Akhavan recently took the time to speak withThe


Rage Monthly about her new film via phone from a British editing room. What are you doing in England? I’ve been living here for three years now, working


was a little personal in that I spent time in a rehab center and in group therapy. I could relate to those aspects and wanted to depict them realistically. But none of us involved, have undergone same-sex attraction aversion therapy (as the process was formally called). The cast is excellent. Can you talk a bit about your casting process? When it came to the principals, it was a matter


of making offers and Chloë [Grace Moretz] was a no-brainer. I knew she could carry a movie, but I wanted to see her play against her persona. I also didn’t want the characters played by Jennifer [Ehle] and John [Gallagher Jr.] to be seen as villains, I cast them because they are both so warm and relatable. Were you raised in a religious environment? If not, how could you relate to Cameron’s plight? No, not at all, I was raised in a traditional Iranian


family. My family is Muslim but lived through the Iranian Revolution, so we learned how destructive religion can be. They weren’t pro-gay but didn’t try to change me. What are plans for your movie after Outfest? It will be released in theaters onFriday, August 3.


What are you working on now? A TV series, a bisexual dating comedy calledThe


Bisexuals. That’s what I’m in the editing room with now. It will be on Hulu in October.


The Miseducation of Cameron Posttakes place at Outfest Los Angeles’s Closing Night Gala and Awards Ceremony on Sunday, July 22, at The Theatre at ACE Hotel, 929 S. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to outfest.org.


JULY 2018 | RAGE monthly 27


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