Why We Made 8

The opening of 8: The Mormon Proposition is underway. In theaters. On Demanded Video. DVD to follow. Some critics love it. Some not so much. Some of those that didn't like it raise some valid points and are allowed their own opinions regarding the artistry and way the documentary is crafted. Others are complete imbeciles. I don't really give a shit. To me, the film does exactly what it set out to do: (1) Deliver a powerful punch to a very deserving bully (2) Give voice to countless individuals who have been hurt, often beyond repair, by that bully.

Many still don't get it. Many still disagree. For me, it is summed up flawlessly in an email I just received from one of my very most favorite friends:

I just saw yer movie yesterday and am still freaking out about how fucking awesome it was!!! My family threw a birthday dinner party for me immediately following my seeing it and I had no idea how I was going to go and sit through an entire evening with people who belonged to such a horrific organization. But you know what?!?! THEY asked ME to tell them about the movie and we spent the entire evening discussing the issue...you know what Em...(tears filling my eyes) without this movie, I would have NEVER known how my family felt about this issue. I couldn't believe that all the way from my 'football-jock' brother in law, down to my own mother, the feeling was UNANIMOUS that the church was out of line and how disappointed they were about what had happened.

Em, I can't even BEGIN to tell you what a monumental event this was for me and my family. I could have easily been any one of those suicide interviewees on that film as our family dynamics drove me to that point as well. And now, here we are discussing one of the most controversial issues between our two worlds and AGREEING?!?! It was a modern day miracle and I have you and your amazing crew to thank for it!

Like with Goodbye, I Love You, No More Goodbyes and Facing East - hearts and lives are being healed. And that, my friends, is ALL that matters. That is what makes having lived through it all completely worth it.