Family Fundamentals

2002
6.3| 1h15m| en| More Info
Released: 26 May 2002 Released
Producted By: DeepFocus Productions Inc.
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

With a rare gift for unflinching impartiality, director Arthur Dong delves into the lives and attitudes of fundamentalist families who actively oppose homosexuality, despite having gay offspring themselves.

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Trailers & Images

  • Top Credited Cast
  • |
  • Crew
Brett Matthews as Self - Son of a Mormon Bishop
Arthur Dong as Self (voice)
Chaz Bono as Self - Out at last (archive footage) (as Chastity Bono)

Reviews

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.
Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.
jzappa Yet another terribly upsetting chronicle of Christianity's war on homosexuality, this subtle, micro-budget documentary gives an interlocking picture of three families where gay relatives are rejected, or made to feel that "reparative therapy" is the one way their families will acknowledge them again. Though we are always entirely conscious of his presence behind the camera, gay documentarian Arthur Dong, who apparently suffered a gay bashing years before making this film, shoots both planes of the issue with soft charity and sensitivity.Somehow, what Dong does is very clever, because seeing both sides unprovoked by biased filmmakers gives an even plainer, noninflected view of them, and it is so much more maddening. The professed Christian parents are all so fanatical and narcissistic that they are weak to any hint of change in their minds, fearing change to the degree that they would rather sever their connections with their children, who need them to love them more than they need anyone else to love them, than honestly probe their beliefs and interpretations of anything. That we see their gay children, who are so clearly happier and wiser, talk to them by any means demonstrates a degree of patience and tolerance utterly unearned by their parents, who, much to the irony of being such devout Christians, could not begin to understand that kind of patience or tolerance. One wonders how these people came to learn such strength and character, for it certainly was not from their parents.That the men and women victimized and wounded by these self-unaware dinosaurs of archaic convention have nurtured themselves to live constructive lives and to find some amount of individual happiness at all despite such tyranny, cruelty and unadulterated bigotry divulges a tome in itself. This is the heartfelt importance of Dong's stomach-turningly sad piece. At the end of the day, one would think the true form of God as He is commonly interpreted would consider that young and vulnerable outsiders not be obliged to endure such torment and suffering.This movie does not outright defy anyone to amend their viewpoint, but it does deeply urge everyone to appreciate one another more, and to doubt and to love, all in an hour and fifteen minutes.
jaroslaw99 The description was pretty honest in that the documentary covered both sides of the debate. My confusion is what purpose was accomplished with this? One side makes a statement, but doesn't back it up with facts and vice versa. I am pretty sure I have seen documentaries that have included "editorial comments" from a reputable source. For example if someone says "these are three reasons for X" no matter how stupid, the "stupid" VIEWER is going to say in their mind "I agree with this, what is the problem?" To the person who knows it is factually wrong says in their mind "I already knew this and we are not going to change this (possibly ignorant) person's mind. Why am I watching this?" Just listening to people's pain and disagreement doesn't help me much.
brunodutch The real problem with this film is that the so-called Christians are all so self-obsessed and vain, so full of the cruelty born of ignorance that it's very difficult not to hurl bricks at the screen. The Mormon has it worst. But in my experience Mormons persecute their gay children more venomously than any other denomination. In the case of the 'support group' run by the 'Spatula Ministries' (I'm not making that up) that the children of these half-wits talk to them at all displays a level of tolerance wholly undeserved. As for Brian and his mentor Bob Dornen... I can't for the life of me think why he would have wasted five minutes of his life on such a pig. His speech on the floor of the house is one of the more repulsive displays I've ever witnessed. Though he manages to be quite oblivious of his racism he revels in his homophobia. That the men and women persecuted by these fools have raised themselves to live useful lives and to find some measure of personal happiness in the face of such oppression speaks volumes. This is the real value of the film. I lost most of my family when I came out and have had no contact with my father for years. If I had to do it over I might well get this film and let them see it in the hopes that they would see their own behavior in the actions of these self-righteous bigots. In time let's hope young men and women won't have to go through such torture.
twotikis Wouldn't it be great if Kathleen Bremner read the book "Prayers for Bobby: A Mother's Coming to Terms With the Suicide of Her Gay Son" -- Leroy Aarons. Thank you Brian, Brett and Susan for not lying about who you are anymore and thank you Arthur for bringing their stories to us.

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