Dear Jesse (1998)

Directed by

Tim Kirkman

Genre

documentary film, LGBTQ-related film

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 22m

Rating

4.8 of 10 from 6 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A documentary filmmaker writes a letter to Senator Jesse Helms, a conservative politician who opposed gay rights. The film explores their shared roots in North Carolina and contrasts their life paths. It includes interviews with people who support and oppose Helms, as well as community activists and everyday citizens.

personalreflectiveintimatethoughtfulconversationalpoignanteven-handedcontemplative

What happens

Dear Jesse is a 1998 American documentary film by Tim Kirkman that was released theatrically by Cowboy Pictures in 1998. Using a first-person narrative style in the form of a "letter" to Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), the filmmaker explores the parallels and differences between himself — an openly gay man — and the staunchly anti-gay rights public servant. The film also features interviews with Helms' foes and fans, community activists, novelists Lee Smith and Allan Gurganus, openly gay Carrboro mayor Mike Nelson, and people in the street, including a brief interview with Matthew Shepard, then a student at Catawba College. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

More like this

• The Grace of God (1998)
• All God's Children (1996)
• Out of the Past (1998)
• Outrage (2009)
• Pride Divide (1997)
• Licensed to Kill (1997)
• Divine Trash (1998)
• Ballot Measure 9 (1995)