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Mormons' representation in The Falls + Latter Days (spoilers for both)

posted 11 years ago by nnenok
3 replies | jump to latest

I am wondering which of the movies represents Mormons more correctly. I'm interested from the point of when it is discovered that the character is gay. Latter days shows Mormons much more negatively - the second the gay guy is discovered, he gets rushed home, excommunicated, he nearly kills himself due to the aversion of his family and his church. In this sense, The Falls seems to be much more comforting - RJ's family still loves and supports him and after leaving the church, he is able to live a normal life. Did Mormons become more in tune with the present, does it depend from the state of where someone is from?

[–] blindvias-071407 10 years ago

Ex-gay therapy is still a big deal, such as shown in Latter Days. It's very lucrative.

The fact that one movie focused on aversion more than the other is more a choice of the production and not a reflection on how gay men are treated.

Mormon's still deny gay men a seat at the table, and gay Mormons still feel spiritual abuse from that rejection. It's a terrible injustice.

[–] rockethulsey 10 years ago

Jesus Wept

[–] BRagunton 9 years ago

As far as the mission field goes, what was seen in Latter Days is far more accurate. Regarding families though, that varies. Some are quite hardline like Elder Davis' family in Latter Days, while others are far more understanding and compassionate like Elder Smith's family.

While I loved Latter Days (much of that story happened during my own mission), I felt that The Falls seemed to have a somewhat better representation of the church, especially with Elder Merrill and his family.