Broken Heart Land

Sibling filmmakers Jeremy and Randy Stulberg take a look at the modern American culture wars in the relatively liberal college town of Norman, OK. In 2010, the mayor proposed that October be declared LGBT History Month, a move that brought an unexpected groundswell of outrage from local Bible Belt traditionalists and their supporters. Armed with (questionable) statistics about homosexual suicide, AIDS, and death rates, local pastors-turned-activists not only forced the withdrawal of the motion but also announced intentions to run for city council. A week later, Zack Harrington, an openly gay youth who attended the tumultuous town meeting, killed himself. His loving family subsequently learned from his journals that Zack had been HIV positive. Cameras follow the bereaved Harringtons as they join MOM (Mothers of Many), a support organization for parents of homosexuals, and set out to back a lesbian candidate for council against one of the upstart Christians. Even with the film's obvious sympathies, a decent amount of time goes to the conservatives, who speak of their opponents in hate-the-sin-love-the-sinner terms and say they mainly seek equality—no conferring of special privileges or government honors on homosexual lifestyles or agendas. Building to a bittersweet election outcome, Broken Heart Land is a timely documentary on a hot-button issue. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)