Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine

Name: Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine
Genre: Biography, History, Documentary
Released: February 6, 2015
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 75

2015

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Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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Matt Shepard Is A Friend Of Mine

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: February 6, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: With never-before-seen photos and rare video footage, Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine revisits the shocking case of Matthew Shepard, the gay young man who was tortured and murdered in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history.

Director: Michele Josue

Genre(s): Biography, History, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 89 min

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Feb 6, 2015

It is wrenching but never exploitive. It is impressively skeptical of the same mission that it takes on its shoulders: to make something positive from a senseless crime without diminishing its senselessness. This film doesn't just revisit an atrocity, it moves through it, and finds meaning in it. Read full review

The Playlist Nicholas Laskin

Jan 25, 2015

Matt Shepard Was A Friend Of Mine is a stirring, sometimes tough-going piece of documentary filmmaking: pure, honest and undiluted by hyperbole. Read full review

Graham Fuller

Feb 4, 2015

This heartbreaking documentary should be shown in every high school and college — and everywhere intolerance is suspected. Read full review

Nick Prigge

Jan 31, 2015

The doc adopts the viewpoint specifically of those who knew him best, and seeks to separate the person from the emblem. Read full review

Serena Donadoni

Feb 3, 2015

Josue tries to reclaim his narrative with this intimate, positive portrait, but while Shepard's brave and resourceful parents encourage her, they realized long ago that his death means he no longer belongs solely to them. Read full review

Nicolas Rapold

Feb 5, 2015

In lingering over moody night streets and trembling faces, Ms. Josue has brought this film to the verge of becoming a tear-jerker. But, as epitomized in an extraordinary scene with a conflicted priest, it’s all part of a shared soul-searching that still continues. Read full review

Martin Tsai

Feb 12, 2015

The film is enough to prompt soul-searching among parents, educators and the LGBT community on how to provide adequate guidance and support for LGBT youths. Read full review

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Tss5078

Jun 23, 2016

Matthew Shepard represents many things to many different people. For some he stands as a symbol of why people need to fight for equality, for others he opened their eyes to the horror and abuses that people go through every day simply for being different. What's easy to forget however, isMatthew Shepard represents many things to many different people. For some he stands as a symbol of why people need to fight for equality, for others he opened their eyes to the horror and abuses that people go through every day simply for being different. What's easy to forget however, is that first and foremost, Matthew Shepard was a human being. Shepard was a friendly, kind, outgoing, young man from a small town and there in lied the problem. In a town of a few thousand, Shepard stood out and everyone knew who he was and what he was. One night, a couple of drunk rednecks decided to mess with him, it went too far, and they killed him. This film, isn't about that though, it isn't one of the many films about the symbol that Shepard became or the fight for equal rights his story ignited. This is a film, by a long time friend of Matt's, who simply wanted the world to know about her friend. Michele Josue interviews Matt's brokenhearted family and friends about his life, from childhood up until his untimely death, and weather your gay or not, weather you respect gay rights or not, you can't help but feel for these people who lost such a bright, loving, artistic person, who made everyone around him just that much better for knowing him. It's a terrific documentary and I was very happy that for once, a documentary focused on the life of the man instead of the tragic way that he was killed.… Expand

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Brent_Marchant

Feb 16, 2015

An engaging look into the life of a young man whose considerable impact on helping to raise consciousness about the brutality of hate crimes has led to significant changes in the law and public perceptions. The film puts a human face on the life of someone who deserves to be remembered forAn engaging look into the life of a young man whose considerable impact on helping to raise consciousness about the brutality of hate crimes has led to significant changes in the law and public perceptions. The film puts a human face on the life of someone who deserves to be remembered for more than just being a martyr for change. The film also elevates the circumstances surrounding his passing to bigger picture status, with some surprising insights about all concerned with this human drama.… Expand

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