LDS-film quality assailed

OREM — Richard Dutcher has good reason to be irked.

When he opened the way for LDS-themed movies, he unintentionally opened the floodgates for what he calls "an avalanche of mediocrity."

Since his groundbreaking film "God's Army" hit the big screen in 2000, he says, audiences have been deluged with films that basically call for Mormons to laugh at the Latter-day Saint religion and its culture.

The goofy stuff — think "Singles Ward," "R.M." and "The Home Teachers" — make money while his earnest and serious works don't draw the same results.

Two Dutcher films, "Brigham City" and "God's Army 2: States of Grace," have gone begging, even though during its brief run in theaters last year "States of Grace" drew critical acclaim from film reviewers around the state.

Speaking at the LDS Film Festival last weekend, Dutcher asked audiences to go see the movie, which has been brought back for a two-week run.

Dutcher said it is time for faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to vote for cinematic excellence with their pocketbooks.

My husband and I took up Dutcher's challenge. In his new movie, we found a sobering, powerful story, one that does not shy from putting prayer and ordinance language on screen.

It's full of gritty drama, along with humor and tears. It's also an honest story that probably would raise the hackles of a lot of Latter-day Saints concerned about putting the sacred on celluloid.

Dutcher has a point, however.

What's better to show the world? The idiotic and silly? Or the culture as it is, with all its warts, full of good-hearted people to strive who follow the Christian teachings of their religion.

Dutcher suggests Mormons do a disservice to the religion by subscribing to the movies that mock the members.

He apparently is not alone in his dismay. Judging from the swift response to a story in this week's Utah Valley Life about his appearance at the festival, more than a few people believe the religion deserves better from its own.

One reader wrote: "I agree with him. The LDS films are awful, disgusting and degrading to members of the church. We were given a DVD of "The Home Teachers." Honestly, my husband and I could not believe what we were seeing. There is no home teacher in the world who is so disgusting as the two portrayed. We could not watch all of it. Carry on, Mr. Dutcher, with some worthy, uplifting films about what really goes on in this wonderful church full of good people, not idiots like these films portray."

Another, from Virginia, had this to say: "Amen to Richard Dutcher! I am a Mormon living in Virginia who is starved for more of Dutcher's work. I was back in Utah at Thanksgiving time and was very disappointed to find his movie pulled. What a shame! I hope that Utah Mormons get their act together and turn out in droves in support of 'States of Grace.' I applaud Dutcher and hope that the rest of the so-called 'Mormon entertainment' artists will sit up and take notice."

A reader from Phoenix wrote: "Those making LDS-based films have to do a better job to portray the important things and not make them a laughing point. I will not see the majority of these 'LDS' movies because they only poke fun at us (members of the church). They need to focus on the good that the church and its members do all over the world. That will truly show that we are Christians because we strive to care for others as Christ would."

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E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com

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