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One of Those Mormon Movie Lovers, You Know?
An early look at the upcoming documentary, Cleanfix
Directors Andrew James and Joshua Ligairi from the film ’Cleanfix’ poses for a portrait during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival at The Sutton Place Hotel on September 15, 2009 in Toronto, Canada.
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Most mainstream movies today emphasize convincingly violent effects and impressive nudity. But, what happens when your religion forbids it? Envision Sweeney Todd without a drop of blood or Titanic without Rose’s infamous nudity. How about The Matrix without the iconic slow motion brawls? For Mormon directors Andrew James and Joshua Ligairi, this is a reality. However, this is not all there is to it. Taking place in Utah, Cleanfix documents what is known as the “clean movement” through its rise into society and its fall as it fights with mainstream Hollywood.
As expressed in Cleanfix, Mormon prophet Ezra Taft Benson believes “the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterwards.” As a solution for Mormon movie lovers, a number of video stores began to offer “clean” versions of major films to accommodate the Mormon population. Regrettably, they forgot to discuss this with the copyright owners. This film attempts to put this issue into context by talking to those involved on both sides, notably filmmaker Neil LaBute, who left a Mormon community, known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This documentary raises an important question: if “clean” versions can be developed for television, why shouldn’t they be available in stores for those who prefer them?
According to IFC’s official website, from viewing Cleanfix, “one thing becomes clear: in movies, you can skip over the parts you don’t like. But in real life, you can’t.” The IFC Center is presenting a showing of this film Tuesday, April 27 followed by a Q&A with its directors. This is your chance to get answers. For more information, visit www.ifccenter.com.