Buy Fish Can't Fly | Tlashop.com

Fish Can't Fly

We're Sorry...
We're sorry, but this title is currently unavailable.

When new special editions or price reductions are announced.

Synopsis

Is religion something that only belongs to a few? Taking a secular point of view, Fish Can't Fly explores the lives of gay men and women of faith as they recall their journeys to put their sexuality and spirituality in harmony. While the whole concept of changing ones’ sexual orientation may be viewed with a high level of skepticism, ridicule and even humor by the larger GLBT community, these are the stories of those who have tried.

Finding that their strong religious convictions and faith seemed to be used against them, these are the personal stories of people who have participated in “ex-gay” ministries and found in fact that they did not provide a “cure “…. the answers seemed to come from within. The stories they recall are sad, frightening, poignant and yet surprisingly inspiring and enlightening. With less of a focus on the "ex-gay" movement, the film is more about the telling of stories behind the debate and the role religion can play in one's life. During our lives, each of us embarks on a journey to find our place in the world. Being Gay can make that process more difficult….being Gay and having strong religious convictions can make it doubly hard.

The film contains candid, fascinating and heartfelt discussions about God and being Gay. There are even some surprisingly humorous events in hindsight. With the current social and political climate, this feature length documentary by award winning filmmaker Tom Murray, is timely.

Customer Reviews

Amos Lassen

Deep Issues wrote on 08/20/2008:

“Fish Can’t Fly: Conversations about God and Struggling to be Gay”

Deep Issues

Amos Lassen

“Fish Can’t Fly” is an expose, if you will, on the concept of changing your sexual orientation so that you will be more pleasing to your maker. Admittedly I am skeptical about those organizations who believe that they can change us and I approached the film with an open mind Murray gives us examples of those who have tried. Taken from a secular point of view the movie records their journeys so that there will be peace between sexuality and spirituality. The people in the movie are those that have taken part in those ministries that claim to make us “ex-gays” (Give me a break—I am religious and I am proudly gay). The people in the film found no cure. But as Murray deals with the “ex-gay” movement, he also deals with the debate over the issue and the role that religion plays in life. You expect to hear some horror stories and you do—to a degree but more surprising is the inspiration and joy that can be gleaned from, what you see. The stories are sad but they are not desperate; they are frightening but reasonable. If you have followed my writing at all, you know where I stand on religion and if you haven’t, take a look at the article I posted entitled “A Piercing Thought”. I am totally at pace with who I am—I am first and foremost a Jewish male whose religion is very important to him and who can also reconcile his place in the ranks of the observant. I rarely miss a Sabbath at the synagogue, I keep a kosher home and I observe the holidays and the traditions and I am GAY. I embarked on my journey of self discovery and self acceptance and decided that being gay and being Jewish is who I am. If anyone has a problem with it, then it is their problem. If they decide that they do not want to include me in their circle, it is their loss. I come as a package deal—take it or leave it. The people in this movie have deeper issues. They obviously have had trouble in self acceptance. I know my place in the world and I go where I want—simple as that. The movie maintains that being gay and having strong religious convictions makes things doubly hard. In a sense I agree. However, if you can be at peace with yourself, the journey is much easier.
The beauty of “Fish Can’t Fly” is its candor. Its emotional approach and the deep discussions on issues many of us would never dare discuss. All in all, the film is enlightening and extremely interesting. It will make you think and reconsider who you are and for this alone it is important. However, those are not its only qualities. It is a good movie that feeds the mind and deserves to be seen by any God loving person. This is an important film as it can unlock some of the mysteries of each and every one of our lives.