Prayers for Bobby
Prayers for Bobby is a 2009 American film of a true story, that explores teenage homosexuality, religion, blame and suicide. Growing up gay is hard enough, but without your family supporting you it can feel impossible.
Having watched this on Josh’s advice, I think it is a really open and honest portrayal of the anguish that is part and parcel of being a gay teenager. Whilst not likely to convert the pope, hopefully this film will help people realise that condeming lectures don’t help, and that gay people can still be normal and loving.
Bobby (Ryan Kelley) knows he’s okay, thanks largely to a single understanding cousin. But he can’t shake the burden of disappointing his mother, and the loss of her complete rejection, which leads to tragedy.
My own story is quite similar, but less extreme. Whilst the initial shock to my mother almost destroyed us, luckily it calmed down enough, and 5 years later she is now adequately accepting, if not entirely supportive. I will send her a copy of this film, just to let her know she made the right choice.
The film itself is nothing special, a simple storyline with almost everything explained to the letter. Whilst not exactly a blockbuster, the message is powerful and direct, and it’s definitely worth a watch.
It took the death of her son to bring Bobby’s mother to terms with the pain she had caused him, and she continues to work to stop other gay teenagers falling foul of the same ignorance and pain.
Video after the break…
If you want a better explanation of the film (with spoilers), check out this video from 5SSG’s Scotty:
Tags: movies
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 1:46 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:01 am
I have been meaning to see this, it’s downloaded and everything. I might watch it tonight before I feel out of the loop.
May 9th, 2009 at 3:53 am
I watched this movie the night it premiered! While not a “blockbuster” as you stated, It is a moving and well made movie that every gay person and anyone who knows,or suspects they know, a gay person should watch this movie!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:15 am
I have yet to see this film,but I well try this week.
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I saw it too. The sad thing is, 30 years later, rather than heterosexual society treating us like crap, gay people treat each other like this for not being rich enough, not having a good enough job, car or home, or not having something that is ‘more’ that in gay brains equals higher value as a human being. Gay men in particular have decades to go before knowing anything about what love is. This is why gay marriage is so far off for most of us – while it is not fair to punish everyone, and by no means am I saying all gay men are like this, we only make up a very small percentage of people. We can not afford to continue projecting our anger about whatever happened to us being rejected in adolescence out on the very people who had the same things happen (other gay men) – we need relationships that, on the whole, last more than 2 years and dating opportunities that lead to an actual second date before we need marriage rights.
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I’m not sure that the film or book asks for gay marriage at all. All Bobby wanted was not to be hated just because he was gay. If he was hated for real reasons, he would have been fine with that. But this was something he couldn’t change.
As for gay marriage, I don’t see why it shouldn’t exist, but I personally don’t see it as a priority. My priority is changing perceptions. Whilst most people now ‘tolerate’ homosexuality existing, they think we are all over-promiscuous sex-pest pedophiles with weird fetishes and all infected with every STI going. As opposed to normal people who just like guys instead of girls. Not sure if the same applies to lesbians, but probably.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:38 am
When the USA will learn how to live without god, keep religion for private philosophy, (which would be the real freedom for religion practice…), separate religion form right and laws, separate religion from power and politics, stop trying to make free-minded people and governement obey to religious rules, this kind of dramatic story will never happen again.
Just count how many times the mother invokes god in the film.
Iran and Irak and others muslim countries prosecutes gay people.
Where is the difference with USA so long you let speak such people as Pastor Phelps? Do you really hope to bring democracy in Orient if all your laws about privacy are inspired the same way by old scriptures and superstitions?
You answer “every body can speak what he wants because we are supposed to be a free country”. Why cannot everybody fuck his own way with no fair and no hate according to the same principe?
Protect people’s way of life the same way than free speach…
Obama tries to pass a law prosecuting homophoby, such a law exists in all civilised free countries in Europe, where homophoby is a crime of hate just as racism or antisemitism.
All republican senators are opposed to this law, juts like the mollah they so loudly flamed…
Let’s his one have his live, his faith or not, his religion or not, his sexuality or not, and you will live in a real free country.
A french guy.
Ptinounours
(aka little bear).
July 28th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Don’t think the film is available over here yet but will watch it when I can. I went through a torrid time in my teens but was fortunate to meet a guy I could settle down with so been with him now for 30+ years. We are growing old (in my case disgracefully) together! As to what anyone else thinks of our relationship – Accept it or don’t – no skin off my arse!