I'm a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (what most people call "Mormon"), and graduated in Humanities from BYU. During my time in college, at the beginning of a particular lecture, one of my humanities professors mentioned that his friend Robert Altman had told him about an opportunity to be involved in a film which would explore LDS characters and beliefs. I remember my professor requesting (almost pleading) with him to help him get the LDS details right. Years later, just recently, I realized that Angels in America was the film he was talking about that day.
Robert Altman didn't end up directing it, my professor didn't end up helping him, and as a result, most of the LDS details in the series woefully miss the mark.
I could submit examples to the goofs section ad infinitum, but I won't. Suffice it to say that from an LDS perspective, a lot of the dialogue made me wince or even cringe. It wasn't even that it was all that offensive-- it just made me wonder why in the 21st century with nearly unfettered worldwide access to information, the filmmakers wouldn't put forth just a bit more effort and make the script ring a bit more true.
I also found it puzzling and discouraging that one of the themes of the miniseries seemed to be to discourage the marginalization of gay people (an objective I applaud, in itself), but the series seems to vigorously marginalize Mormons every time it got the chance. When Louis finds out about Joe's beliefs, and then in turn when Prior finds out that Louis and Joe are seeing each other, words to the effect of "He's a MORMON? A MORMON?" were scripted; as if "Mormon" is some kind of inherently detestable class of sub-human; as if all you need to know about Joe is that he's Mormon. As such, there is something wrong with the person.
Or when Joe (somewhat inexplicably) explains his temple garments (somewhat inaccurately) to Louis, Louis initially refers to them as "fruitcake underwear," and Joe just lets that one slide, after holding absolutely firm with Roy on not taking the Lord's name in vain. When you think about it, many religions worldwide, and through many different periods of time (including especially Judaism), have demonstrated their belief through the wearing of religious clothing-- even non-practicing Louis covers his head with a napkin in a Jewish context toward the end of the series). LDS people simply wear theirs underneath their everyday clothing.
Other strange and just-inaccurate-enough-to-irk-me references to LDS history, doctrine, and culture abound throughout the series, many probably subtle enough to pass by the majority of viewers unnoticed. I remember reading that Kushner used LDS themes allegorically and not to be specifically personal or offensive; but after just watching several hours of ridicule for things I find sacred, perhaps you'll forgive me when I doubt his sincerity.
This review is already too long (sorry), but I'll end by saying that on the plus side, the series was NOT boring. It kept me interested throughout all six episodes, and bad as (I thought) the dialogue was, the acting was great.
Robert Altman didn't end up directing it, my professor didn't end up helping him, and as a result, most of the LDS details in the series woefully miss the mark.
I could submit examples to the goofs section ad infinitum, but I won't. Suffice it to say that from an LDS perspective, a lot of the dialogue made me wince or even cringe. It wasn't even that it was all that offensive-- it just made me wonder why in the 21st century with nearly unfettered worldwide access to information, the filmmakers wouldn't put forth just a bit more effort and make the script ring a bit more true.
I also found it puzzling and discouraging that one of the themes of the miniseries seemed to be to discourage the marginalization of gay people (an objective I applaud, in itself), but the series seems to vigorously marginalize Mormons every time it got the chance. When Louis finds out about Joe's beliefs, and then in turn when Prior finds out that Louis and Joe are seeing each other, words to the effect of "He's a MORMON? A MORMON?" were scripted; as if "Mormon" is some kind of inherently detestable class of sub-human; as if all you need to know about Joe is that he's Mormon. As such, there is something wrong with the person.
Or when Joe (somewhat inexplicably) explains his temple garments (somewhat inaccurately) to Louis, Louis initially refers to them as "fruitcake underwear," and Joe just lets that one slide, after holding absolutely firm with Roy on not taking the Lord's name in vain. When you think about it, many religions worldwide, and through many different periods of time (including especially Judaism), have demonstrated their belief through the wearing of religious clothing-- even non-practicing Louis covers his head with a napkin in a Jewish context toward the end of the series). LDS people simply wear theirs underneath their everyday clothing.
Other strange and just-inaccurate-enough-to-irk-me references to LDS history, doctrine, and culture abound throughout the series, many probably subtle enough to pass by the majority of viewers unnoticed. I remember reading that Kushner used LDS themes allegorically and not to be specifically personal or offensive; but after just watching several hours of ridicule for things I find sacred, perhaps you'll forgive me when I doubt his sincerity.
This review is already too long (sorry), but I'll end by saying that on the plus side, the series was NOT boring. It kept me interested throughout all six episodes, and bad as (I thought) the dialogue was, the acting was great.
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