Did anyone else see this lovely short documentary on the New York Times site today? I found it quite moving, and, even though I'm straight, very familiar.
I once looked at a girl (I'm a girl), and my father in law said I was a lesbian. Then without knowing the word, I knew he was a homophobia. I later learned he was also against blacks too. I wanted to tell him I married his "son". I'm very much a celibate. If I had to chose a title, it would be bi-sexual. But because I'm celibate, Thank you for sharing this. Also, Ingrid Nelson just came out last week, she is an youtube fashion icon.
Shunn asked: ------------------------------------------------------- > Did anyone else see this lovely short documentary > on the New York Times site today?
I had a go at this piece of Hollywood fantasy and found it less than lovely.
This post could go on for pages if we'd list all the dream-factory lies in the tale.
What LDS mission, then or now, would allow such a honeymoon couple to train from Pescara on the Adriaco to Civitavecchia and then climb on a ferry to Sardegna?
All those lovely shots with a mini-cam few companionships ever had back then... studios can dream up endless footage like this.
The producers did find a real Gene Wilder look-alike to star and then manufactured all those shots to make a "lovely" story.
Shummy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Most newbies would never know that the gentleman > featured in the piece used to post here. > > A lot.
Those were the good ole days weren't they Shummy? We had some good times.
HaHa! A lot is right. Many years ago I used to hang out here for hours on end until I finally felt like I'd covered all the territory I needed to and moved on. It's nice to see some of the old gang still beating the drums and helping people make their transitions out of the cult.
So happy you enjoyed it Shannon. The filmmakers did a great job of editing a very long story down to just 13 minutes. I didn't think they could do it but wow, they not only did it they did it beautifully. It was a long and circuitous journey getting the film made but it's out there now and it makes me happy to see it being so well received.
tomclark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well, I don't check in very often but this thread > caught my attention so I thought I'd weigh in. :-)
Love you Baby.... glad you stopped by. Its good to see you
I can relate to what he said about prostitutes, I had a some weird bond with them on my mission, not sexual, but I did become quite good friends with a couple. I felt like we were at the same level, part of the ecosystem of freaks and geeks working the streets of Montreal
That's a great way of putting it - freaks and geeks working the streets. The connection I felt with the prostitutes was unspoken but I had a connection with them having grown up in the countryside outside of Rome where they often brought their johns. They were familiar to me in a strange and comforting way.
Thanks for sharing the documentary here Shunn. It's been a fascinating journey getting the documentary made over the past three years and it's nice to finally have it out there making the rounds of the film festivals and being seen so widely online. It wasn't an easy decision to make, resurrecting my mormon past from forty years ago with such a personal story but I felt like it might help some young gay mormons see a different perspective on the subject.
A poster below made some pretty disparaging comments about the film and I just want to clarify that the story is true, every word of it. The Super8 footage from that time is mine as well and proved to be a valuable part of making the story come alive.
For what it's worth, Gianni and I are still great friends more than 40 years later. I see him whenever I'm in Italy and we talk often by Skype. We will always be in each other's hearts.
I'm glad you felt hope in it rather than sadness. The story did have a much happier ending than what was implied in the film. Gianni and I continued being lovers for many years, taking breaks when either of us was in a relationship. At some point along the way we realized we were holding onto something that had changed and we transitioned from being lovers to being the best of friends. More than forty years later we're still very much in each other's lives - I always see him whenever I'm in Italy and we talk often by Skype. Some things really are forever.
Wow. I didn't know that you were that man in the film. I saw this several weeks ago when a former mission companion shared it with me.
We both cried, thinking "that was it" at the end of the film and that you never saw each other again. I'm so grateful there has been a better ending and that you continue to cherish your friendship.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I was incredibly touched by it.
I loved this little film. It was the innocence. Just a beautiful moment of just purely beautiful feeling and emotion with no baggage. I have had those moments. They are some of our greatest treasures. I am so happy Tom shared this.
My wife and I really enjoyed seeing this documentary tonight. It was very touching, insightful, and helpful to me personally.
I've always tried to be fair and compassionate towards my gay friends and neighbors, but I can't say that I've ever felt like I understood their world very well.
This was such a cute little film. Isn't it interesting how we can refuse to allow ourselves to have what we want in order to please others who have no interest in us, our lives or our happiness.