Dear Jesse (1997)
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83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(31 ratings)
In this personal documentary, gay filmmaker Tim Kirkman breaks up with his lover in New York and returns to his home state of North Carolina where he talks to numerous people in an effort to gain an understanding of North Carolina's homophobic senator, Jesse Helms. Kirkman's interviews… More In this personal documentary, gay filmmaker Tim Kirkman breaks up with his lover in New York and returns to his home state of North Carolina where he talks to numerous people in an effort to gain an understanding of North Carolina's homophobic senator, Jesse Helms. Kirkman's interviews include the widow of a former Helms associate whose son died of AIDS, and a gay elected official who views Helms as evil. Observing that Helms is "obsessed with homosexual men -- and so am I," Kirkman concludes that many attack Helms in a manner not much different from the way Helms denounces those who are gay. Black-and-white footage used for New York scenes is seen in contrast to colorful North Carolina footage. Shown at the 1997 Boston Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Tim Kirkman
- Genres
- Documentary, Special Interest
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Oct 10, 1998 Wide
- On DVD
- Oct 30, 2007
Critic Reviews
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Daniel M. Kimmel, Variety
What [director] Kirkman succeeds in doing is proving that [Jesse] Helms and his bigotry should not personify North Carolina.
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Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
A memorable documentary.
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David Noh, Film Journal International
A straightforward, nicely diverse likeness of the country and its people that is highly informative and, at times, extraordinarily moving.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Thoughtful, personal examination of the dichotomy of North Carolina as a bizarre mix of the tolerant and the intolerant, the progressive and the reactionary.
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