Were the World Mine (2008)
Tanner Cohen stars in director/co-writer Tom Gustafson’s 2008 musical film Were the World Mine.
Were the World Mine
2008 | USA
Director: Tom Gustafson
Screenplay: Tom Gustafson & Cory James Krueckeberg
Starring: Tanner Cohen, Wendy Robie, Judy McLane, Zelda Williams, Jill Larson, Ricky Goldman, Nathaniel David Becker, Christian Stolte & David Darlow
Were the World Mine originated as a short film titled Fairies. After a successful festival run, Gustafson and his writing partner Cory Krueckeberg planned the feature-length adaptation while on a flight back to New York from a screening of Fairies at Outfest.
The feature follows Timothy, a teen in his senior year at an all-boys private school, who is constantly bullied for being gay. While preparing for his role as Puck in the school’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Timothy discovers a recipe for a love potion.
Armed with a large purple pansy that sprays “love juice,” Timothy uses the flower to turn the homophobes in his town—and at his school—queer. He also gives a generous dose of the potion to his handsome, sporty crush, Jonathan. Naturally, the love potion brings both benefits and complications, and Timothy must decide whether to continue living in this wonderfully chaotic new world or return to the way things were.
Were the World Mine traveled the festival circuit in 2008, though not all festivals were welcoming.
“We have been told by numerous festivals that the film is ‘too gay’ for their audiences. Which is ridiculous—it’s like saying that a film with heterosexual characters is ‘too straight’ for gay & lesbians to appreciate, which I don’t think anyone would ever say,” Gustafson told IndieWire in 2008.
Despite distribution challenges, Were the World Mine garnered praise and numerous awards on the festival circuit. It received a limited theatrical release the same year and was soon after distributed on DVD by Wolfe Releasing. While it may not have had the full theatrical run it deserved, the film, and its catchy tunes, went on to become a favourite within the queer community (myself included).
You can currently stream Were the World Mine for free through Wolfe Video on YouTube (LINKED BELOW), linked below. It’s also available to stream on Roku, Kanopy & Fawesome (USA), for rent on Amazon (USA), and also available on DVD.
