MovieChat Forums > Shelter (2009) Discussion > All respet to Shaun for persistence, I w...

All respet to Shaun for persistence, I would stop much sooner

posted 8 years ago by nnenok
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm just rewatching the movie again and Zach is an absolutely terrible conversationalist. I do get it, he's very introverted and sensitive, which is fine, but he doesn't give almost any hints to Shaun that he's on the right path with hitting on him. We, the viewer, get to see how he's smiling when he's talking on the phone with him or when he's drawing after their night together, but if I'm trying to put myself into Shaun shoes and work only with the feedback he's getting directly from Zach, there's really not much to go on from. The first time they kiss, he runs away, the first time they sleep together, he runs away, his sentences (when Shaun is asking him anything) are all very dismissive ... Again, we get that Zach actually is into Shaun, but you would have to have a high level of empathy to get into Zach's head and actually realize that.

I think that's why he and Gabe were best friends. Gabe is just talk talk talk and doesn't even notice that his friend doesn't open his mouth at all, and Zach liked not actually telling anything about himself.

[–] shadowgate100 7 years ago

I got something a little different from Zach's communication skills. I felt he was able to talk to talk to Shaun easily enough, except when things were troubling or upsetting him. There was a whole serious of scenes showing them together through multiple days of nights after, plus he had no problem talking to Shaun about how he read Shaun's books and how much he likes them, plus all the time they spent together surfing and presumably talking then. I think they just didn't show the good aspects of their relationship and focused more on the drama where Zach is having problems coming out or hiding the relationship from his peers, during which he does clam up.

[–] shimygloss 7 years ago

My take was the age difference and Shaun's maturity level played an important role in Shaun's patience with Zach. I think that Shaun understood Zach's emotions better then Zach actually did. Shaun brought Zach out of his shell and made him comfortable; helped him feel better about his artwork and was simply a pillar of support for him when he needed it the most.

The biggest thing for me was seeing how lonely and isolated Zach was before Shaun. Sure he had his sister and nephew, but all his friends had moved away or were in college. He wasn't connecting with his "girlfriend" and he was so sad without anyone to support or understand him. Now, enter Shaun, and everything changes. He has companionship, understanding and a connection with Shaun immediately.

I also would like to point out that it was Zach that continued to go see Shaun at his home and not the other way around. I am thinking of when he first went to pick up Shaun the day after he knew he was in town to go surfing and most importantly the night when Zach just showed up at the door and starting kissing Shaun. Zach can be shy, but he knew what and who he wanted.

I love this movie and I can go on and on...but the beauty of Shelter for me is watching Zach come alive and start participating in his own life and moving forward to a brighter future, all due to Shaun's efforts, love, and support. What a wonderful man Shaun is...I've had my fingers crossed for years for a sequel. 

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