Prayers for Bobby
A&E Video (2009)
Biography, Drama, Queer Themes/Interest
In Collection
#141
0*
Seen ItNo
IMDB   8.1
90 mins USA / English
DVD 
Sigourney Weaver Mary Griffith
Henry Czerny Robert Griffith
Scott Bailey David
Lee Garlington Psychologist
Susan Ruttan Betty Lambert
Austin Nichols Ed Griffith
Ryan Kelley Bobby Griffith
Dan Butler Reverend Whitsell
Carly Schroeder Joy Griffith
Marty Bufalini Councilman
Ele Bardha Doug
Linda Boston Marge
Madge Levinson Ophelia
Shannon Eagen Nancy Griffith
Anna Badalamenti Michelle
Marshall McClean Reverend Owens
Rebecca Louise Miller Jeanette
Hadas Corey Cheryl
Director
Russell Mulcahy
Producer Stanley M. Brooks
Chris Danton
David Steinberg
Damian Ganczewski
Writer/Composer Katie Ford
Leroy Aarons
Cinematography Thom Best
Music Christopher Ward


True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.

In "Prayers for Bobby," Mary Griffith is a devout Christian who raises her children with the conservative teachings of the Presbyterian Church. However, when her son Bobby confides to his older brother he may be gay, life changes for the entire family after Mary learns about his secret. While Bobby's father and siblings slowly come to terms with his homosexuality, Mary believes God can cure him of what she considers his 'sin' and persuades Bobby to pray harder and seek solace in church activities in hopes of changing him. Desperate for his mother's approval, Bobby does what is asked of him, but through it all, the church's apparent disapproval of homosexuality causes him to grow increasingly withdrawn and depressed. Guilty over the pain he is causing Mary, Bobby moves away, yet hopes that some day his mother will accept him. His subsequent depression and self-loathing intensifies as he blames himself for not being the 'perfect' son and is driven to suicide. Faced with their tragedy, Mary begins to question her faith when she receives no answers from her pastor concerning her devastating loss. Through her long and emotional journey, Mary slowly reaches out to the gay community and discovers unexpected support from a very unlikely source. The film is based on the 1995 Leroy Aarons book of the same name. Written by Louie Neira
Edition Details
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 5/7/2016
Location Amazon: My Video Library
Owner Deitz
Store Amazon.com
Purchase Price $3.99
Condition Streaming
Links Wikipedia
IMDB
Amazon.com
Prayers for Bobby at Core for Movies
TheMovieDb.org
References
Streaming, VoD Amazon Prime
Lists ‡ IMDb Best Gay Themed by Metonymy, ‡ Listall Best Gay Themed by Polsko

Notes
The Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, to which the Griffins belonged, was a conservative evangelical congregation -- at the time was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomation (the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States) -- They voted in 2015 to align with a new denomination, the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). This decision was affirmed by the San Francisco Presbytery of the PC(USA) in November 2015. On February 26, WCPC officially joined ECO. The PC(USA) denomination has removed all restriction on GLBTQ persons from membership and holding offices, and their ministers are now permitted to perform same-sex marriages.