Ep 15. Valentine Road

Valentine Road is a gut-wrenching and emotional documentary produced and directed by Marta Cunningham, which chronicles the tragic events that followed the murder of eighth-grader, Larry King, who was ruthlessly shot and killed by his classmate, Brandon McInerney, in 2008.

The documentary takes us through the life of Larry, a young boy who realized at a young age that he was gay but found himself struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, especially in an environment that was hostile towards homosexuality. As a result, Larry found solace in dressing up in women's clothes, wearing make-up and wigs, and often found himself being bullied and ridiculed by his peers and even some of his teachers.

On the other hand, the documentary sheds light on Brandon, a young boy who grew up in a dysfunctional family and a violent environment, who was often exposed to drug abuse, physical violence, and racism by his family members and in his community. Brandon, who was just fourteen at the time of Larry's murder, had a fascination with guns and white supremacist ideology, which played a crucial role in his decision to kill Larry.

The documentary painstakingly takes us through the events that led up to the murder, the court case that ensued, and the aftermath of the trial. We see the impact that the murder had on Larry's friends and family, who were left heartbroken and traumatized by his death. We also see the impact that the trial had on Brandon's family and his defense team, as they found themselves grappling with defending the indefensible.

Valentine Road sheds light on some of the most critical issues facing our society today, such as bullying, LGBT rights, gun violence, and the justice system. It forces us to take a hard look at the social and ideological constructs that have led us to a place where a young boy can be murdered at school simply for being who he is.

The documentary does an excellent job of capturing the emotions of the moment, and it is hard not to be moved by the raw and honest interviews with Larry's friends and family and Brandon's defense team. It raises important questions about how we, as a society, can prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future and what we can do to create more welcoming and accepting communities.

Overall, Valentine Road is a powerful, thought-provoking, and deeply moving documentary that is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of LGBT issues, gun violence, and our justice system.