For the Bible Tells Me So
Encyclopedia
For the Bible Tells Me So is a 2007 American documentary film
directed by Daniel G. Karslake about homosexuality
and its perceived conflict with religion
, as well as various interpretations of what the Bible
says about same-sex sexuality. It also includes lengthy interview segments with several sets of religious parents (including former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt
and his wife, Jane, and the parents of Bishop V. Gene Robinson) regarding their personal experiences raising homosexual children, and also interviews with those (adult) children. The film features an animated segment, "Is Homosexuality a Choice?", directed by Powerhouse Animation Studios
and narrated by Don LaFontaine
in one of his last non-trailer narration roles.
The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival
.
reported that the film received 98% positive reviews, based on 43 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 73 out of 100, based on 11 reviews.
Following its premiere in competition at the Sundance Film Festival, For the Bible Tells Me So went on to win a number of prestigious festival awards including the Katherine Bryan Edwards Human Rights Prize at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, and the Best Documentary Audience Awards at the Seattle International Film Festival, the Provincetown International Film Festival
, Outfest
: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Milwaukee International Film Festival, and a number of others.
On November 19, 2007, For the Bible Tells Me So was named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
as one of 15 films on its documentary feature Oscar shortlist. However, it did not make the final list of five nominated films as announced on January 22, 2008.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Daniel G. Karslake about homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and its perceived conflict with religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, as well as various interpretations of what the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
says about same-sex sexuality. It also includes lengthy interview segments with several sets of religious parents (including former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt
Dick Gephardt
Richard Andrew "Dick" Gephardt is a lobbyist and former prominent American politician of the Democratic Party. Gephardt served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from January 3, 1977, until January 3, 2005, serving as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995, and as Minority Leader from 1995 to...
and his wife, Jane, and the parents of Bishop V. Gene Robinson) regarding their personal experiences raising homosexual children, and also interviews with those (adult) children. The film features an animated segment, "Is Homosexuality a Choice?", directed by Powerhouse Animation Studios
Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc.
Powerhouse Animation Studios, Inc. is an Austin, Texas-based animation studio that develops and produces traditional and Flash animation for television series, motion pictures, video games cinemas, commercials, and the internet...
and narrated by Don LaFontaine
Don LaFontaine
Donald Leroy "Don" LaFontaine was an American voiceover artist famous for recording more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of television advertisements, network promotions, and video game trailers. His nicknames included "Thunder Throat" and "The Voice of God"...
in one of his last non-trailer narration roles.
The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival
2007 Sundance Film Festival
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18 until January 28, 2007 in Park City, Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah and Ogden, Utah. It was the 23-rd iteration of the Sundance Film Festival...
.
Critical reception
The film received positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that the film received 98% positive reviews, based on 43 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 73 out of 100, based on 11 reviews.
Following its premiere in competition at the Sundance Film Festival, For the Bible Tells Me So went on to win a number of prestigious festival awards including the Katherine Bryan Edwards Human Rights Prize at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, and the Best Documentary Audience Awards at the Seattle International Film Festival, the Provincetown International Film Festival
Provincetown International Film Festival
The Provincetown International Film Festival is an annual film festival founded in 1999 and held in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The festival presents a wide array of American and international narrative features, documentaries and short films for five days in June of each year.With panel...
, Outfest
Outfest
Outfest is an LGBT-oriented film showcase and festival in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1982 as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference", the name was changed to Outfest in 1994.-Programs:...
: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Milwaukee International Film Festival, and a number of others.
On November 19, 2007, For the Bible Tells Me So was named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
as one of 15 films on its documentary feature Oscar shortlist. However, it did not make the final list of five nominated films as announced on January 22, 2008.