"8: The Mormon Proposition"

[miaedu]

Producer, Writer and Director Reed Cowan is news anchor on one of our local tv channels.

The documentary "8: The Mormon Proposition." premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend. Narrated by Dustin Lance Black.

http://www.mormonproposition.com/reed.html

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upWb2jBk5xw[/ame]

 

[miaedu]

Sundance Film Review: 8: The Mormon Proposition

We Utahns have a decided disadvantage as we watch 8: The Mormon Proposition—not much in the documentary is news to those of us living behind the Zion Curtain.

Filmmaker Reed Cowan does a fine job outlining the Mormon church's involvement in promoting the anti-gay marriage measure in California during the 2008 election season, and that might be enough for audiences content to simply vilify the church's conservative members. But those looking for a meaty dissection of how Prop 8 passed despite early popular support on the pro gay-marriage side—and particularly despite the fact its opponents outspent the pro-Prop 8ers—will find this film wanting.

That doesn't mean the film isn't worth seeing. Some of the stories Cowan elicits from gay Mormons are truly heartbreaking, whether he's talking to ex-Mormons whose families have turned their backs on their gay sons and daughters, or telling the story of a Mormon boy who committed suicide rather than disappoint his devout parents. It's powerful stuff, as is some of the investigative reporting done on how the LDS Church tried to cover its tracks when it got involved in a similar election in Hawaii a decade ago.

Some of the film's production choices I found bothersome, though. The ominous music Cowan layers beneath the audio clips of Mormon officials talking about the campaign seemed unnecessary and kind of cheesy. And a heavy focus on easy punching bags like Utahns Chris Buttars and Gayle Ruzicka might make for great quotes in the film, but I doubt many Mormons would consider them "typical."

Still, the Church deserves much of the criticism leveled here, especially considering its own history of what the film dubs "alternative marriage," ie. polygamy. And the historic nature of the Prop 8 fight—the first time in U.S. history a state has amended its constitution to TAKE AWAY people's civil rights—deserves a great documentary. This just isn't quite it.

8: The Mormon Proposition plays again:

Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City

Friday, Jan. 29 at noon at the Temple Theatre, Park City

Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9 p.m. at the Screening Room at Sundance Resort

Visit the Sundance Web site for a complete schedule and ticket info

http://www.saltlakemagazine.com/Blo...undance-Film-Review-8-The-Mormon-Proposition/

 

[miaedu]

Cancel Gay Pride until we have marriage equality!

What can same-sex rights advocates learn from the Mormons? The director of a documentary on Prop 8 explains

"You are a mighty army. Let us be strong in defending our position. And we do so in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

So begins "8: The Mormon Proposition," director Reed Cowan's documentary about the influence that the Mormon Church had on California's ballot initiative outlawing same-sex marriage, the notorious referendum still being contested in court today. (Closing arguments in the federal case against Proposition 8 wrapped last week, but a decision isn't expected anytime soon.)

Narrated by Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "Milk" — who, like Cowan, grew up gay in the Mormon Church —"8" documents how the church marshaled its members worldwide to protect traditional marriage. The documentary focuses on the story of former Mormon Linda Stay, a mother who wants equality for her two gay children, and of her son Tyler Barrick, who marries the love of his life, Spencer Jones. Both men are former Mormons ostracized by the church for their relationship. The film also shows, through leaked documents, how the church worked behind the scenes to raise funds — more than 70 percent of the money raised for the Yes on 8 campaign came from Mormons, though Mormons are only 2 percent of the state's population — and to donate time, going door to door in their communities asking their neighbors to vote. It's the same blueprint for political success the group used in Hawaii in 1998, when their efforts led to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. The film also veers into the church's dark history with homosexuality: trying to cure gays through electro-shock therapy and even lobotomies.

Salon spoke with director Reed Cowan on the phone.

You were working on another film about the suicide and homelessness of Utah teenagers before you switched your focus to Proposition 8. What made you take a step back and ask: What's causing all this?

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/...ilm_salon/2010/06/25/8_the_mormon_proposition

 

[bankside]

BUMP "8: The Mormon Proposition"

I saw this film recently. It is a powerful documentary into the machinations of the Mormon elders to control the political freedom of Californians. The mind control that is exerted over this flock of people is incredible. One family whose son blew out his brains in the middle of a mormon temple because "healing his homosexuality" wasn't "working," were quoted saying that they were at peace now that he was gone.

Parents who think "Better dead than gay."

Here's a trailer. And you can buy it on iTunes:
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/8themormonproposition/

 

[JeffnLA]

This movie needs to get seen by more people. It's outrageous what they've done

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezwIZo-hKiI[/ame]

 

[miaedu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezwIZo-hKiI

thanks for reposting the trailer

 

[aijalon18]

Surprisingly i was a bit disapointed by this film. There were some great moments but overall I don't see the point. The Mormon Church as a whole is never gonna be accepting of homosexuality no matter how much people cry and try to prove the validity of there love. The only thing to do is fight back and be more organized and passionate about equal rights than them/

 

[Kojimon]

Many people need to see this film. Too many people are ignorant to how dangerous mormonism/religion is to our society and our world.

Too many people (usually heterosexual) become complacent idiots and don't care what policies a religious groups pushes for or how they influence society. They really only care about the waffle-fries at Chick-fil-A.

Every dollar given to anti-gay religions is a dollar against gay rights.

I would also recommend the film Religulous.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMW1u3a2Qd8[/ame]