Tying the Knot

Starring:Lois Marrero, Sam Beaumont
Director: Jim de Sève
Studio: New Video Group
Product Type: DVD

Description

Extremely relevant, highly entertaining and utterly humanist, the critically-acclaimed film festival favorite TYING THE KNOT poignantly explores one of today's hottest issues, the ferocious political battle in the US between gay people who want to marry and those determined to stop them.

Customer Reviews:

Powerful documentary.......2007-02-27

This wonderful documentary takes us beyond the headlines and rhetoric and into the actual lives of the people who are affected by the debate over gay marriage. Too often people seem to forget that behind any issue are the lives of real human beings, who are no different from you or I. The stories of Mickie and Sam are really shocking--it's hard to believe that in this day and age, in this part of the world, people could be denied such fundamental civil and human rights just because of their sexual orientation. Mickie and her wife of ten years, Lois, were Tampa police officers who were warmly accepted by their colleagues, friends, and relatives, yet after Lois was killed in the line of duty, Mickie was denied Lois's pension because of some greedy relatives, and was then forced to pay for the massive attorney's fees even after losing her appeal. Sam and Earl had been married for over two decades and were raising the three sons from Sam's first marriage together, yet after Earl died, a band of bloodthirsty cousins similarly went after Sam. Earl had left everything to him in his will, yet because of a technical error, they got the courts to overturn Earl's final wishes and put Sam in dire jeopardy of being thrown out of his house. These two men had built their Oklahoma farm up from scratch, and because of these cousins who popped out of the woodwork after Earl's death, Sam was being harassed in so many ways (such as a suspicious fire at a house he rented for extra money and a mysterious woman buying the burial plot next to Earl the very day after his death), and also had to start selling his beloved horses to make ends meet. The cousins meanwhile had said they would sell the farm if they got it. These two stories clearly illustrate just how having their marriages recognised by the state would have helped the surviving spouses immensely. Just having a civil union would not cut it; full marriage would have granted them over a thousand basic rights and privileges that straight couples take for granted.

Throughout the film, we also get the history of marriage and see examples of gay marriage in Canada and Holland. It's shocking how the U.S. lags behind at least 24 other nation-states in regards to such a basic human right as gay marriage. The attitude of not just tolerance but acceptance in Holland and Canada is a far cry from the raging debate in the U.S. People who talk about "the defense of marriage" and the definition of marriage being a man and a woman act as though marriage is some monolithic institution that has been the same for the entirety of recorded history, when in actual fact it's only been in the last 200 years or so (at least in the West) that it's become about love instead of economic or social interests. (Although I do wish there had been some historical discussion about the acceptance of same-sex relationships in past societies, such as Greece and Rome.) Marriage was not even considered a sacrament by the Catholic Church until 1215. And the same rhetoric that opponents apply to gay marriage was once not that long ago used to argue against divorce, interracial marriage, birth control (even for a married couple), and women being equal partners in marriage instead of completely subordinate to a husband. In 1948 90% of the American public thought interracial marriage was wrong too and that it was immoral and would destroy the foundations of society, for example. It's also pointed out that the Constitution has only been amended 17 times since the Bill of Rights was ratified, and that if an amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman were to pass, it would be the very first time that an amendment would discriminate against a segment of the population and take away their rights, in lieu of granting more rights to a group of people (such as allowing women and African-Americans the right to vote) or to put more checks and balances on the government (such as changing the procedure to elect the president or directly electing Senators). It also seems baffling how the neo-cons are so against these people who want more than anything to be married, in a culture where divorce rates are higher than ever, the marriage age is rising, and a lot of people are just serially cohabiting instead of making their commitment permanent. For people who throw the phrase "family values" around so frequently, they sure don't practise what they preach about valuing marriage and commited families if those familes happen to not fit into their narrow definition of what a real family is. This film also has some conservative commentators who support gay marriage, such as Andrew Sullivan of the New Republic magazine, and Jeff Cook of the Log Cabin Republicans, showing that, contrary to popular belief, this isn't just something that people on the political left are fighting for.

Extras include outtakes from Boston, a Q&A session with director Jim de Sève, audio commentary by Mr. de Sève and Evan Wolfson, a panel discussion, a brief update on Sam and Mickie (and what one can do to help these poor people), a trailer, filmmaker bios, a resource guide, information on the company Docurama, and a catalog of their other documentaries (some with trailers). Overall, it's a great resource for showing people that this is an issue directly affecting the lives of real human beings, not just some political battle where real people are reduced to statistics or soundbytes. Unfortunately, as wonderful, powerful, and well-made as this film is, the people who most need to see it will probably refuse to see it, or won't change their opinion on the issue, although there are always exceptions, such as Rep. Bob Barr (R-Georgia), who actually somewhat softened his former disgust for and opposition to just the idea of gay marriage.

suitable.......2006-03-24

Though I did not personally view the film, I felt comfortable enough with it to allow it to be screened at the Unitarian Universalist church I attend. The UU Church is interested in social justice issues and welcomed the screening of this important documentary on the nature of marriage in the US.

An Important Documentary.......2005-12-06

As a gay man living in New York who is out in all aspects of my life, I tend to mistakenly think of myself as having all the rights I really need. For that reason, sometimes I forget (and I admit I haven't thought enough about) the very real reasons why this issue is so important. There are over 1,000 Federal rights and privileges that straight married people have that gay couples are denied because of the legal invisibility of their unions.

This film powerfully and poignantly underscores why gay marriage is such an important issue. The film was entertaining, informative, gripping and enraging all at the same time. Unlike many small independent films, the DVD issue contains many extras that made the whole package even more worthwhile.

I strongly recommend this film.

A great docu and marriage and gay marriage.......2005-10-27

Tying the knot is a great movie that shows the history of marriage and how it's changed, and how that affects the fight for gay marriage. The focus stories are personal and captivating. An excellent docu on a important and contemparary issue.

"You cannot tell people they can't fall in love.".......2005-07-24

"Tying the Knot", a documentary from Jim de Seve examines the extremely controversial topic of gay marriage. The documentary blends footage of protests, comments by historians, and speeches by politicians with the very real dilemmas faced by gay couples in America. Years ago, I naively thought that just leaving a will would take care of a surviving gay partner. "Tying the Knot" examines the fate of two gay couples and these stories illustrate how the law fails to protect the surviving partner in the event of death. One of the couples--Mickie and Lois--policewomen in Florida--went through a marriage ceremony together, but after Lois's death in the line of duty, her pension did NOT fall to her partner--but to her family instead. In another example, Earl and Sam lived together for 22 years, and after Sam's death, Earl was supposed to inherit his property. A technicality in Sam's will swung in Sam's cousin's favour, and Earl was tossed out of his former home. If gay marriage were legal, both Mickie and Earl would have been recognized as the surviving spouse, and they would have received all the associated benefits from that. But instead, both Mickie and Earl--not only have to cope with their grief and loss of a life partner, but also have to cope with all the legal fallout from the law's failure to recognize them as little more than roommates. As the filmmaker points out, marriage "takes care" of all the legalities "with one stroke."

But the documentary also raises some thought-provoking questions that go beyond just asking who gets the property in the event of a death. Gay marriage--by granting legal status--also guarantees many other legal protections--even such innocuous rights as hospital visitation, for example. What exactly is so offensive about allowing gays to marry--isn't marriage about "fidelity, and commitment"? And yet those opposed to gay marriage use the "big lie of the Family Value debate"--the idea that gays just want to get married so they can ruin the institution for some bizarre reason.

The film shows gay activists visiting city hall and trying to apply for marriage licenses on Valentine's Day. Somehow, when you see the gay couples lined up (some have been together for decades), it just seems ridiculous that they are turned away. The film argues that the institution of marriage has altered through the ages to accommodate social changes, and it uses the example of an interracial couple--the Lovings--who married in the 1960s at a time in which their union was not recognized by the state they lived in.

While I doubt that "Tying the Knot" will change the minds of those vehemently opposed to gay marriage, it's likely that the film will open the minds of those who wonder what the big debate is all about. Why does anyone get married? Love, commitment and security all seem like valid reasons marriage, and as one man remarked in the film "If you don't like same sex marriage, don't have one"--displacedhuman

Knot Tying DVD:2nd Edition Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices & rope (dual language options: English/Spanish)

Average customer rating:

Why Knot Tie A Knot
Great for Beginners
Best Knot Tying D.V.D
Fantastic!

Knot Tying DVD:2nd Edition Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices & rope (dual language options: English/Spanish)
Starring: Rodney East
Director: EastHaven Productions
Manufacturer: EastHaven Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Ashley Book of Knots

ASIN: B000H2NH3S
Release Date: 2006-07-21

Product Description

Old Edition UPC: 811294000221 TITLE: Knot Tying DVD: Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices and rope (dual language options: English/Spanish) New Edition UPC: 811294000351 TITLE: Knot Tying DVD: Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices and rope (dual language options: English/Spanish) Comments: Please copy all descriptive information from the detail page of the old edition to the new edition, including browse categories. Please also link the detail page of the new edition to the detail page of the old edition.

Customer Reviews:

Why Knot Tie A Knot.......2007-02-20

This instruction DVD has brought so much to the classroom, the students loved it and it was a delight to teach. Very simple to follow and I loved all the extras.
On our next phase we are going to make rope, how cool is that?

Great for Beginners.......2004-11-03

I highly recommend the Why Knot DVD for the beginner to knot tying. Following the DVD step by step enabled me to learn enough in two hours to actually teach others how to tie a dozen knots at a knot tying-exhibit booth at an international youth congress. I can still picture how to tie everything from a sheepshank to a bowline. This DVD sets the standard for teaching knot tying. --Phil Johnson, Bloomingdale, IL

Best Knot Tying D.V.D.......2004-09-28

This is the best and easiest D.V.D to use. It lets you see step by step how to tie different knots. We used the colored rope that matched the D.V.D. which made it much easier to follow. It is much easier than using a book. You can buy the colored rope off their web site at www.KnotTyingVideo.com. It was worth every penny that I paid for this D.V.D

Fantastic!.......2004-06-14

This is a must get DVD for anyone dealing with outdoor sports or recreation. This gives you all the knots that you will ever need for fun and safe outings. Parents with kids in any type of scout or outdoor group --- you will feel safer knowing that your child has learned all there is to being a well equipted knot expert. It is easy to use and has great graphics for noting detail and practicing each knot. We use it to teach our kids. Our daughter was one of the top kids in Illinois in speed knot tying competition this year because of this execellent DVD.

Knot Tying DVD: Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices and rope (dual language options: English/Spanish)

Average customer rating:

Why Knot Tie A Knot
Great for Beginners
Best Knot Tying D.V.D
Fantastic!

Knot Tying DVD: Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices and rope (dual language options: English/Spanish)
Starring: Rodney East
Director: EastHaven Productions
Manufacturer: EastHaven Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Ashley Book of Knots

ASIN: B0002BV5G0
Release Date: 2004-04-04

Description

"Why Knot? an introduction to knots, splices & rope" is an instructional DVD perfect for learning knot tying, splices and basic rope information on your own or for use while teaching a group. Practice along with the DVD then pause, when you see the pause symbol, to check your knot.

Why Knot? takes the innovative approach of showing how the knots and splices are tied from the perspective of the person actually tying the knot or creating the splices. Once you know how to tie the knot, you will then see the knot in its "natural habitat" -- Real People using Real Knots. It is interesting to know how to tie a knot; it's EXCITING to know when to use the knot.

Why Knot? How about for:
* Rock climbing
* Sailing
* Horseback riding
* Tying your neckties
* Camping
* A host of other reasons

In this 2 hour DVD you will learn 47 knots and 6 splices with the added feature of learning which knot is the "best" knot for a specific job. It is important to use the right knot for the job because sometimes if the knot comes untied it may be just simply inconvenient, mildly annoying or downright dangerous.

In addition to the main body, the DVD contains 34 minutes of bonus material, language and subtitle options (English or Spanish), and powerful navigational control; go right to the knots or section for your purpose.

Bonus Material:
* Neck tie knots
* Speed Knots - instruction in how to tie knots quickly
* Making a rope litter for rescue
* Creating a rope-making machine.

Customer Reviews:

Why Knot Tie A Knot.......2007-02-20

Great for Beginners.......2004-11-03

Best Knot Tying D.V.D.......2004-09-28

Fantastic!.......2004-06-14

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