Free sneak preview of ‘Broken Heart Land’ in Norman, OKC

A free sneak preview of Still Point Pictures’ documentary Broken Heart Land, a film about the journey of a Norman, OK family, will be screened in Norman on June 17 and in OKC June 18, prior to its national release.

The film follows the Harrington family in the wake of their son, Zachary's, suicide in 2010. Their search to understand why he ended his life is a story about a boy who had pain and secrets, a family that had hoped love was enough, and a community divided over embracing diversity.

The film is directed by siblings Jeremy Stulberg and Randy Stulberg, and produced by Eric Juhola in Norman and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The nuanced and emotional documentary will make its debut on two Oklahoma screens in advance of its world premiere at the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, June 21 and nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, June 24 as the season finale broadcast for PBS WORLD Channel’s current season of America ReFramed. The series showcases independent films that take an unfiltered look at relevant domestic topics with personal storytelling tied to programming social themes.

Against the backdrop of Norman, Oklahoma, a town bitterly divided on the issue of homosexuality, Zack’s grief-stricken parents, both conservative Republicans and military veterans, are forced to reconcile their own social and political beliefs with their son’s death. Determined to understand Zack, they discover a private diary, which paints a gripping portrait of a boy in crisis. Ultimately, they discover a chilling secret that Zack kept hidden for almost two years, which leads them to some painful conclusions about their son’s life and death.

When an outspoken conservative citizen runs for the town’s City Council, the Harringtons decide to join a politically active group called “MOMS: Mothers of Many” (mainly comprised of local mothers of LGBTQ youth). Over the course of the local election season, we witness Zack’s family, once private and politically conservative, move from private denial to a climactic and very public acceptance of their son’s legacy.

Viewing will be:

Tuesday, June 17 at the Sam Noble Museum 
2401 Chautauqua Ave. Norman, OK 73072-7029
http://www.snomnh.ou.edu 
The screening will start at 7pm. 

Wednesday June 18 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art
415 Couch Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
http://www.okcmoa.com
The screening will start at 7pm.

Here's a link to the trailer:  https://vimeo.com/94910811

The Gayly – June 11, 2014 @ 12:55pm