The portrait "Valentine Road" paints of Brandon, a white boy raised by a nose-breaking, gun-shooting, alcoholic stepfather, is as informative as it is chilling. Formally, it's a fairly ordinary TV documentary, with some thuddingly unsubtle touches. And yet, it was another teacher---a teacher who gave Larry a shiny green dress to wear before he died, who ran to his spasming body as blood poured out of his head---that the school fired. Last night, HBO aired Valentine Road, a documentary about the 2008 murder of Lawrence ("Larry") King, a 15-year-old gay student who asked then-14-year-old Brandon McInerney to be his Valentine. Valentine Road (2013) ... And there are interviews with several people, including at least one teacher and a couple of jurors, who think it was all King’s fault. Larry was adopted at a young age and physically abused by his father; he was placed in a shelter for neglected children months before his death. It's the sad irony of "Valentine Road" that Larry is the least knowable person of the movie. The day before Larry, who had a crush on Brandon, had asked him to be his Valentine in front of his friends embarrassing him. In 2008 Cunningham read a Southern Poverty Law Center article about the murder of an openly gay non-conforming 15-year-old, Lawrence King. Valentine Road allows each side a chance to explain themselves, with the only common ground being a tremendous well of pain. Valentine Road is a documentary film by director Marta Cunningham. TV-14 | The shots were fatal. 77/100. Valentine Road: Sundance 2013 By Natalia Lusinski January 26, 2013 No Comments This poignant documentary recounting the shooting of 16-year-old Larry King by his classmate, just-turned-14-year-old Brandon McInerney, does an excellent job at showing how this singular event affected hundreds of people and opens viewers’ minds from both sides: the victim’s and the killer’s. None are more virulent than those of Shirley Brown, "Valentine Road's" soul-shriveling impetus. Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop, Goodnight, Sugar Babe: The Killing of Vera Jo Reigle, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter, 19 November 2020 In February 2008, 15-year-old Larry King, an openly gay boy, was shot in the back of the head twice by Brandon McInerney, his 14-year-old classmate. Valentine Road evoked a passion within me like few other films have done this year. The documentary “Valentine Road,” on HBO, is based on a 2008 shooting in which a junior-high-school student shot and killed a fellow eighth grader. It's probably hanging on Brown's wall. Directed by Marta Cunningham. And most of the teaching staff - as well as the jurors - seemed to be sympathetic to the murderer. Producer-Director Eddie Schmidt Inks Overall Deal With Universal TV. For an enhanced browsing experience, get the IMDb app on your smartphone or tablet. The strong emotional reaction that the film evokes is exactly why Valentine Road is such an important and necessary film. 617 likes. When Larry died two days later, his murder shocked the nation. (One of them brandishes a "Save Brandon" tattoo on her wrist and weeps for him, as if he had survived two gun shot wounds to the head). In 2008 in Oxnard, California, a just-turned fourteen-year-old boy, Brandon McInerney, stood up in a classroom and shot a classmate, Lawrence King. On February 12th 2008, in Oxnard California, a 14 year-old student Brandon brought a school to gun and shot his classmate Larry from point blank range in the back of his head while we was working on a computer in class. Served the little faggot fucker right for getting in everybody’s face with his perversions, according to this incredibly evil teacher who was not at all afraid to say that on the record. Our impression of the foster child who was chronically bullied at school is drawn from others have to say or from a handful of recurring photographs that pan in on Larry's pretty brown eyes. It's far easier to be repelled by his victim-blaming sympathizers, which include a callous group of jurors and Brandon's inappropriately sentimental defense attorneys. With James Bing, Jeremy Bing, Rosalie Black, Dawn Boldrin. Lawrence Fobes King, also known as Latisha King (January 13, 1993 – February 14, 2008) was a 15-year-old student at E.O. Her implacable evaluation of Larry's murder is as terrifying as the fact that the elephant and zebra heads hanging on her walls are real. Deadline On February 12, 2008, in Oxnard, California, eighth-grade student Brandon McInerney shot his classmate Larry King twice in the back of the head during first period. Consider watching Valentine Road with your colleagues in observance of Bullying Prevention Month, LGBT History Month and National Youth Justice Awareness Month. | | Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. 1 talking about this. CCJ 4938: Hate and Bias Crimes In-Class Activity: Valentine Road Viewing Guide Name: _____ At one point in the film, one student says “I think that Larry was born in the wrong age. View production, box office, & company info, Bunim-Murray CEO Gil Goldschein to Exit After 20 Years at ‘The Real World’ Production Company (Exclusive), ‘Ugly Delicious’ Showrunner Eddie Schmidt Signs Overall Deal With Universal TV, Producer-Director Eddie Schmidt Inks Overall Deal With Universal TV. Variety | But culprits remain on the loose: the hate and self-hate of adults like Brown, which pose a more subterranean, pervasive, and reverberative threat to fragile young people. A meeting of several jurors after the trial is deeply unsettling. Documentary, Crime, On February 12, 2008, in Oxnard, California, eighth-grade student Brandon McInerney shot his classmate Larry King twice in the back of the head during first period. Valentine Road. Most of the speakers don't acquit themselves well, with several winding up blaming the victim for just being too flamboyant. Amid the progress of assimilative issues like gay marriage, vicious heterosexism and racism can be seen in our country right now, including in our schools, where too many of our students die. He was shot and killed in his middle school classroom by 14-year-old classmate Brandon McInerney.. ‘Ugly Delicious’ Showrunner Eddie Schmidt Signs Overall Deal With Universal TV, 20 August 2018 Your hate for the now 20 year old can only go so far. Valentine Road In 2008, eighth-grader Brandon McInerney shot classmate Larry King at point blank range. Originally from Iowa, John lives in Brooklyn where he retreats from the paparazzi and his crazed fans. From Page to STAGE: The Evolution of SUBMISSIONS O... Tribeca Film Festival: Night Moves – Review. The day before Larry, who had a crush on Brandon, had asked him to be his Valentine in front of his friends embarrassing him. Valentine Road is successful in giving an equally strong voice to the students at Larry's school as to the adults — the teachers, authorities, jurors, … On February 12th 2008, in Oxnard California, a 14 year-old student Brandon brought a school to gun and shot his classmate Larry from point blank range in the back of his head while we was working on a computer in class. Valentine Road. | Offsite Link. These kinds of people shouldn't be near kids, let alone work as teachers. Larry died two days later in the hospital. Unraveling this tragedy from point of impact, the film reveals the heartbreaking circumstances that led to the shocking crime as well as the aftermath"--Movie Web site. Yes, Brandon, not Brown, brought a gun to school and killed Larry and no matter what you think of the sentence, he's now serving 21 years in prison. Certain individuals portrayed in the film angered me to the point where I wanted to physically throw something at the screen. She ended up working at a Starbucks. The portrait "Valentine Road" paints of Brandon, a white boy raised by a nose-breaking, gun-shooting, alcoholic stepfather, is as informative as it is chilling. Honoring the contentious fact that Larry wore women's clothing to school for the last two weeks of his life, they draw him strutting down the hall in his choice earrings, high-heels, and red-bow. A groundbreaking indie web miniseries set in prohibition-era Iowa The accompanying Discussion Guide can help you explore the themes and realities documented in the film—school safety, support for LGBT students, juvenile justice, violence intervention, and responding to hate and bias among others. Hate Crime on “Valentine Road” By Noah Forrest. Of the many tearjerking and jaw-dropping revelations Cunningham captures, Brown is the reason I'd caution LGBT parents in particular against watching the movie and the reason they still should. This event is at the center of Marta Cunningham’s documentary, “Valentine Road,” which premiered on HBO on October 7 and is available On Demand and at HBO Go. John graduated from Eugene Lang College with a degree in Literary Studies. Their disregard of Larry shows you how the understanding of his murder is sanded with virulent opinion. Valentine Road is a feature documentary examining the emotionally devastating earthquake and powerful aftershock that occurred when 14-year-old Brandon McInerney fatally shot 15-year-old Lawrence King during first period English class in the 8th grade. They were in the computer lab of their junior high school in Oxnard, California when Brandon stood up from his chair and pulled the gun on Larry. NZIFF – Valentine Road. A massive fire rages for a second day at one of Indonesia's biggest oil refineries. A middle-aged teacher from Larry's school that he actually confided in, Brown is awful. Variety “Valentine Road”, a remarkable debut by Marta Cunningham, asks how one child could come to shoot another in such clinical, desperate circumstances. It's these unsettling people that make "Valentine Road" such a staggering and critical movie. VALENTINE ROAD picks up where the traditional media coverage left off, delving deeper to explore the entwined paths of victim Lawrence “Larry” King and his killer, Brandon McInerney. It's far easier to be repelled by his victim-blaming sympathizers, which include a callous group of jurors and Brandon's inappropriately sentimental defense attorneys. Four oil storage tanks are in flames at the Balongan refinery in West Java, owned by state oil company Pertamina, after an explosion on Monday morning. The murder occurred after Lawrence (a 14 year old homosexual middle school student) asked another student to be his Valentine…the other student being so offended and embarrassed by the situation that the next day he brought a gun to school and shot him in the back of … Valentine Road shows just how complex the circumstances were for both Larry and Brandon in terms of race, sexuality, gender, socioeconomic status, school support, and family support. If only these weren't the very characteristics that made Larry so threatening to Brandon. Now the documentary "Valentine Road", a brutal and soulful kiss from American filmmaker Marta Cunningham, pays the crime due respect (the title refers to the location of Larry's grave). Bunim-Murray CEO Gil Goldschein to Exit After 20 Years at ‘The Real World’ Production Company (Exclusive), 20 August 2018 89 min When Larry died two days... See full summary ». VALENTINE ROAD portrays the backgrounds and personalities of both the victim and perpetrator, drawing parallels between their troubled childhoods. I came across this documentary on HBO Max last night. As for the dress, I'm not sure. Hopefully, within the next 100 years, it will be perfectly acceptable, without the totally disgusting circumstances that I’ve had to grow up with.” To what extent do you believe this hope could be a reality? Unraveling this tragedy, the film reveals the heartbreaking circumstances that led to the shocking crime as well as the aftermath. Title: Valentine Road Director: Marta Cunningham During the day one press conference at the Sundance Film Festival, festival director John Cooper Your hate for the now 20 year old can only go so far. Unbelievably sad. From it comes a warning: all eyes shouldn't be on Putin's Russia or Nigeria alone, Americans needn't look that far for disconcerting homophobia. Barely teenaged trans student murdered at school by equally young white supremacist student. Valentine Road (DVD) : "In 2008, eighth-grader Brandon McInerney shot classmate Larry King at point blank range. Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. In 2008, eighth-grader Brandon McInerney shot classmate Larry King at point blank range. Through an impressive range of interviews with the parents, teachers, students, police, attorneys, and jurors tethered to Larry's premature death, the lucid movie looks at the stories of both Larry and Brandon. Lover of running, gin and tonics, writing, and anything Kate Winslet, his one true love is Nutella. Valentine Road is an maddening look at the somewhat recent murder of Lawrence King in an Oxnard, CA middle school. At least six people were severely injured in … The suggestion that Larry brought the tragedy on himself surfaces repeatedly. In the weeks leading up to the incident, Larry had begun to wearing makeup and accessorising, and had come out to friends. Directors Marta Cunningham Starring Dawn Boldrin Genres Documentary Subtitles English [CC] Audio languages English. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. But he's also magically illustrated by artists Charles T. Jones, Yoriko Murakami, and Dan Ridgers. 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