Why Mormons?
I have not seen the movie but am curious as to why the three main characters are all Mormons, can anyone enlighten me?
shareTom, the screenwriter, Dan Davis, based the three main characters on real women from his life (his grandmother, aunt and a close family friend) - and he grew up Mormon in a little town near Pocatello, Idaho.
Here's what he says in the film's Press Notes:
“The inspiration for the principal characters came from my own life – my grandmother, Arvilla, my Aunt Carol and Margene Criddle, a close family friend. My grandmother was quite a few years younger than my grandfather. When he died, she seemed to lose her sense of purpose and interest in life... BONNEVILLE came from my desire for a happier ending, one where grief gives way to the realization that another life full of adventure and discovery lies ahead.”
good insight, thanks for sharing
shareIf they're Mormons, why did they have one of their husbands cremated? (I haven't seen the movie.) Just curious.
shareIn the movie, the fact that Jessica Lange's character had to cremate her husband creates all sorts of drama and disputes.
(And as to why she did it, her husband was an anthropologist who died unexpectedly in Borneo and it was his dying request)....
i'm not sure there's anything specifically in mormon doctrine against getting cremated.
shareIt's strongly discouraged in Mormonism. Mormons believe in literal resurrection and cremation is seen as disrespectful of the sanctity of the human body. It's very rare in the American Mormon culture and would raise eyebrows among the neighbors. But especially because the church has members in cultures where cremation is common, there's no absolute prohibition against it.
dmaryon
Dmaryon is correct. Within the church, cremation is advised against in cultures where it isn't required, but there's no prohibition and it's not considered sinful. Outside of Utah or southern Idaho, it usually wouldn't be that big of a deal.
share