'Boys Do Cry' At Parrish Will Explore Young Male Psyche Through Film

Over the course of the past year, the behavior of several powerful men in high places has come into question following accusations that paint them in a less than flattering light.From priests to entertainment industry moguls and, now, possibly a Supreme Court nominee, allegations mount and debate ensues over the facts of each case as the rest of us are left to question the general state of the male psyche in this country.

While conjecture and analysis of the systemic failures of our institutions and the men involved in them typically follows, in this era of “Me Too,” one filmmaker with an East End connection is inviting audiences to consider the lives of boys and men through an entirely different lens—one that doesn’t take sides or delve into politics, but simply explores the world of young males struggling to find their place in the world.

Jack Kendrick, a thesis film student at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, has curated “Boys Do Cry,” an evening of short films that will be screened at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill on Friday, September 28. The films by Mr. Kendrick and his peers from NYU bring a unique perspective to topics such as parental relationships, peer pressure, young love, or simply the desire to be free from societal expectations.

But all have one thing in common: They are coming-of-age stories about the often quiet lives of boys and young men.

Raised in New York City, Mr. Kendrick spent summers in Sag Harbor. His own film to be featured at Friday’s program. “Honey Bee,” was shot two years ago at his parents’ home in North Haven. In a recent phone interview, when asked why he was interested in organizing this evening of short films, Mr. Kendrick pointed back to real-world events.

“I like to look at elements of life and questions that are unanswerable. Right now, we live in such a polarized time,” he explained. “I love the questions that don’t have answers. I also like looking at youth and, particularly, my youth. I’m interested in the boyhood story—coming of age and what that means today.

“What’s it like to navigate your family as a boy today? What is masculinity?” he added. “This is not specific to a political movement. It just fascinates me. I’m 31 years old, and this something I’ve always been interested in.”

As the film industry goes through a collective soul searching of its own in the wake of scandals involving executives at the highest levels, Mr. Kendrick finds hope in his generation of filmmakers. He’s been impressed by the work he’s seen from his colleagues at Tisch and felt it was important to highlight it.

“The conversation has moved to such a healthy place and has grown so much,” Mr. Kendrick said. “Our influence comes from so many places. The work that we’re seeing really represents a forward momentum.”

In addition to Mr. Kendrick’s “Honey Bee,” which follows a recent college graduate as he comes home for Thanksgiving, only to experience several awkward encounters with his family, the “Boys Do Cry” film lineup includes Alejandro Miyashiro’s “Corazón Dormido,” about a mother and son who travel to the Tijuana-San Diego border for a long-awaited reunion with the boy’s deported father; “Get Out Fast,” Haley Elizabeth Anderson’s film about a free-spirited 15-year-old train-hopper and the friend who misses him; “I Was in Your Blood,” Joseph Sackett’s film of a young boy who falls in love with his babysitter; and “Man of the House,” Jall Cowasji’s short about an authoritarian father and his unruly son. Also featured will be films by Rashad Frett, Ciarán Maginn and Marcus Nøhr.

Several of the films in “Boys Do Cry” are by filmmakers who come from outside the United States. As a result, they bring their own cultural perspectives to their work, which Mr. Kendrick feels opens up the conversation about boys’ and men’s place in society even further.

“They’re so different, with such different stories,” he said. “I’m a cisgender male. I’m white. I have a lot. I live in a bubble. But what better way than to look at others’ lives—and what a great medium to move us outside the bubble—than film?

“Film, at the end of the day, is such an easy way to visit someone’s life,” he added. “This will be a little night exposition about family and putting perspective on that in today’s world.”

“Boys Do Cry” is Friday, September 28, at 6 p.m. at the Parrish Art Museum, 279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill. Corinne Erni, the senior curator of ArtsReach and special projects, will lead a conversation with Jack Kendrick and some of the filmmakers following the screenings. Admission is $12, or free for members, children and students. Visit parrishart.org for details.