Family Fundamentals (2002)

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Director:

Arthur Dong

Writer:

Arthur Dong

Stars:

Cynthia Alardo, Phil Alardo, Heather Beberay

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Cynthia Alardo	...	Herself
Phil Alardo	...	Himself
Heather Beberay	...	Herself - Lesbian and Gay Men's Community Center (archive footage)
Brian Bennett	...	Himself
Chaz Bono	...	Herself - Out at last (archive footage) (as Chastity Bono)
Sonny Bono	...	Himself - U.S. Representative (archive footage)
Kathleen Bremner	...	Herself - Expert Psychologist
Paul Bremner	...	Himself - Kathleen's husband
Pat Buchanan	...	Himself (archive footage)
George W. Bush	...	Himself - Presidential candidate (archive footage)
Laura Bush	...	Herself - First Lady (archive footage)
Mary Cheney	...	Herself - daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney (archive footage)
Robert Dornan	...	Himself - U.S. Congressman, 1977-1997 (R-CA) (archive footage) (archive sound) (as Bob Dornan)
Guy Foti	...	Himself - David's partner
Barney Frank	...	Himself - Member of Congress (archive footage)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

pentecostal | gay mormon | grandmother | gay parent | lesbian mother | 

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Taglines:

What happens when three Christian families have children who "become homosexual?"

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site PBS [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DeepFocus Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)

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Soundtracks

So God So Loved the World
Words and Music by Phillip Alardo
Performed by Phillip Alardo

User Reviews

wolves in fool's clothing

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.