Films dealing with Mormon themes, and often targeting a LDS audience, are increasingly making their way to the cinemas, reports the independent Mormon magazine Sunstone (October).
More “feature films than ever are targeting the LDS audiences,” a trend that started with the release of Richard Dutcher’s film, “God’s Army.” The films deal with contemporary and historical subject matter, such as “Handcart,” involving the 1856 rescue of the Martin Company and “Out of Step,” about a Mormon girl moving to New York City.
Several of the films set to premiere in the next few months revolve around missionary themes. “The Day of Defense” is a drama inspired by a “cult-classic” pamphlet describing a theological showdown between a young elder and Christian minister in the deep South. The explosion of Mormon-themed films has even inspired a “mockumentary,” The Work and the Story, which parodies the rise of the Mormon cinema.
(Sunstone, 343 N. Third West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103-1215; http://www.ldsfilm.com )