HRW: Traveling Film Festival: Film Guide: Saints and Sinners

Saints and Sinners

To learn more about the film, the filmmakers and the subjects of the film, please visit the film’s Web site http://www.personafilms.com/saintsandsinners/index.html and/or download their press kit (PDF file, 14 pages, 791 Kb)
See more about Dignity-USA and Dignity-NY, as featured in the film, at http://www.dignityusa.org and http://www.dignityny.org
Read a review of SAINTS AND SINNERS by Phil Hall of Film Threat at http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5037
Learn more on Human Rights Watch’s work on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights, visit http://hrw.org/doc/?t=lgbt

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Interview with the Director

What is the history of the film? How did you come to this story and what inspired you to make the film?

What interested me in this story is the internal conflict of someone who is a devout Catholic and at the same time gay. How does one come to terms with it? How does one, as a Catholic, accept himself as a homosexual person? Also, any social issue, including same-sex marriage, is often dehumanized in the media, and I wanted to make a film that would put a human face on the issue. We wanted to tell a very personal story about a couple that a straight audience could identify with to break down the barriers through identification.

When you were making the film, were there particular obstacles you encountered?

The presence of the film camera provoked previously supportive family members to voice their true feelings. They threatened not to attend the wedding, because of their fear of being kicked out of their local church for participating in the ceremony. One of the relatives was scared of going to hell for receiving communion from a gay priest.

Can you discuss your approach to making the film, e.g. interviewing, research, editing?

We made a conscious decision to tell a personal story of one couple and let it represent the larger issue. So we resisted including any footage that didn't directly relate to our characters.

After making this film, have you changed your views about particular aspects of this situation or story?

Our goal was to explore the reasons why a gay couple would want to stay Catholic. After spending two years with Edward and Vincent, we have come to a full understanding of their decision.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a feature script about a woman during Stalin's purges.

If someone wanted to know what they could do with regards to some of the issues raised in the film, what would you suggest they do?

Support same-sex marriage organizations such as, Dignity USA, the Wedding Party and Marriage Equality. And campaign from within your church organizations and local communities by outwardly supporting same-sex marriage and the equal rights of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people.

If you would like to send a question of your own, you can do so by emailing info@personafilms.com.