The film doesn't attempt to treat every aspect of early LDS history in a technically accurate way, he said, including scenes where Joseph Smith is translating the Book of Mormon. "We're looking to portray Emma's role in those events, her beliefs and convictions," rather than tackling "certain issues that just are too complicated to present in a film format."

She is portrayed as watching her husband learn about religious doctrine and detail as he translates, in awe of what he tells her based on her knowledge of his limited education. "She asks him if Jerusalem has walls — that's drawn from the historical account," Savage said, adding she reflects on "how he would not have been able on his own to produce" the Book of Mormon. "That's part of what was faith-building for her."

Leaders of the LDS Church attended an early screening of the film in mid-March, Kennedy said, as a courtesy for allowing filmmakers to use excess footage from the church's own film, "Joseph Smith, The Prophet of the Restoration." The actors portraying Joseph and Emma are the same in both films, and Kennedy said viewers will see some "strong continuity" between them.

The producers said they can't put a cost estimate on the project because so much volunteer time and labor was used, though they were able to raise a "sizeable amount" in private donations. Comparable production values "would be several million dollars," Savage said. "But we didn't spend near that."

Depending on the commercial success of the film, there are tentative plans to produce a second one that covers the balance of Emma Smith's life, Savage said.

"This was never designed to be on PBS or National Geographic," he said. Rather, the goal was to create dialogue from historical accounts to both educate and entertain the Smiths' descendants and others who are interested.

"This isn't seeing Emma or Joseph from the viewpoint of academics. This is a family perception," Kennedy said.

Once the film premieres in Utah, plans are in place for wider distribution, with premieres in Montana; Independence, Mo.; and Sydney, Australia, where many of the Smiths' descendants live.

For information on the film and the Smith historical society, see www.josephsmithjr.org.

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com