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The Case Against 8

  • 20142014
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Case Against 8 (2014)
A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Play trailer1:32
1 Video
8 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Biography
  • News

A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equa... Read allA behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Ben Cotner
    • Ryan White
  • Writers
    • Ben Cotner(story)
    • Ryan White(story)
  • Stars
    • Ted Olson
    • Christopher D. Dusseault
    • Jeffrey J. Zarrillo
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Ben Cotner
    • Ryan White
  • Writers
    • Ben Cotner(story)
    • Ryan White(story)
  • Stars
    • Ted Olson
    • Christopher D. Dusseault
    • Jeffrey J. Zarrillo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 11 wins & 18 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:32
    Official Trailer

    Photos8

    Ryan White in The Case Against 8 (2014)
    The Case Against 8 (2014)
    Ben Cotner in The Case Against 8 (2014)
    The Case Against 8 (2014)
    The Case Against 8 (2014)
    The Case Against 8 (2014)
    The Case Against 8 (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ted Olson
    Ted Olson
    • Selfas Self
    Christopher D. Dusseault
    • Selfas Self
    Jeffrey J. Zarrillo
    • Selfas Self
    Paul T. Katami
    • Selfas Self
    Kristin M. Perry
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Kris Perry)
    Sandra B. Stier
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Sandy Stier)
    David Boies
    David Boies
    • Selfas Self
    Ted Uno
    • Selfas Self
    Chad Griffin
    • Self - American Foundation for Equal Rightsas Self - American Foundation for Equal Rights
    Kristina Schake
    • Self - American Foundation for Equal Rightsas Self - American Foundation for Equal Rights
    Adam Umhoefer
    • Self - executive director, American Foundation for Equal Rightsas Self - executive director, American Foundation for Equal Rights
    Elliott Perry
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Elliot Perry)
    Frank Stier
    • Selfas Self
    Tom Stier
    • Selfas Self
    Spencer Perry
    • Selfas Self
    Dominick Zarrillo
    • Selfas Self
    Linda Zarrillo
    • Selfas Self
    Enrique Monagas
    • Selfas Self
    • Directors
      • Ben Cotner
      • Ryan White
    • Writers
      • Ben Cotner(story)
      • Ryan White(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    After the California Supreme Court ruled in May 2008 that same-sex couples could marry, a proposition was put to voters to amend the state constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. After that proposition was passed a group decided to challenge the constitutionality of the amendment. This documentary follows the efforts of the plaintiffs and lawyers over four years as the case winds its way through the courts. —garykmcd
    • teenage boy
    • cooking
    • playing a video game
    • interview
    • year 2008
    • 33 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Battles are won because they are fought.
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Biography
      • News
    • Certificate
      • TV-14
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ted Olsen's first wife, Barbara Olsen, was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 en route to a taping of Bill Maher's television show "Politically Incorrect" when it was flown into the Pentagon in the September 11th attacks.

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Inspirational
    The "8" in the title refers to Proposition 8, a California referendum in 2008 that overturned that state's legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry. This documentary covers a five-year period in which two same-sex couples (one male, one female) work with a team of lawyers to fight for the restoration of equal marriage.

    Even though the end result is already known, this film has a very powerful effect mainly because of the people involved. Most shocking is that a devout Republican attorney, Ted Olson, is part of the team to fight for equal marriage. One of his colleagues in the battle is David Boies who had fought against Olson in the 2000 U.S. presidential election case on whether the Florida votes should be counted. This is an odd but intriguing pairing, indeed.

    While the legal storyline is fascinating, the main force of this film is intimate portraits of the two couples who are the plaintiffs in the case: Kris Perry, Sandy Steier, Jeff Zarrillo, and Paul Katami. The revelations of their lives, their coming-out stories, and the support of their families hits right at the emotional core. These are four fascinating people.

    "The Case Against 8" begins with high emotions but it flattens a bit somewhere during the second half. However, the personal victories that are exposed in the end leave such a rise in the heart that this movie must be credited for its inspiration in showing the very best of the collective human spirit. This is truly a case where the personal is political and it is magnificent.
    helpful•0
    1
    • proud_luddite
    • Jun 17, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1, 2014 (Belgium)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Справа проти восьмої Поправки
    • Production companies
      • Moore's Filmed Goods and Services
      • Tripod Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Related news

    Why Netflix Bingeing Brought Fresh Power to the 50-Year-Old Mystery of ‘The Keepers’
    Jun 26Thompson on Hollywood
    Why Netflix Bingeing Brought Fresh Power to the 50-Year-Old Mystery of ‘The Keepers’
    Jun 26Indiewire

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