Family Fundamentals

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

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.

Genre

Documentary

Watch Online

Family Fundamentals (2002) is currently not available on any services.

Director

Arthur Dong

Production Companies

DeepFocus Productions Inc.

Family Fundamentals Videos and 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)

Family Fundamentals Audience Reviews

Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.
Colibel Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.
Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
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.
Thomas Mayer This documentary depicts three families where gay members are shunned, or made to feel that "reparative therapy" is the only way they will once again be accepted by their families. Arthur Dong, director of "Coming Out Under Fire" and "Licensed to Kill", films both sides of this issue with quiet grace and subtlety.