When I first heard of this film, it was in the making, and I was excited to know that yet another film was being made to raise awareness of the issue that is male infant circumcision, this time focusing on secular circumcision as it is performed by doctors on male infants in America.
The first such film that I ever heard of and I followed was CUT: The Film, by Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon, which examines the subject of male circumcision from a religious, scientific and ethical perspective.
Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon wearing tefillin in protest against the latest AAP Statement
The particular thing about Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon is that grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home, and he criticizes the practice of male infant circumcision as a Jewish male.
This time, the film "American Circumcision" is a film written by a secular, non-Jewish male, who criticizes male infant circumcision as it is practiced in America; 80% of American males are circumcised from birth, and they are overwhelmingly non-Jewish males circumcised at hospitals by doctors.
When I first mentioned Brendon Marotta and his film to other intactivists, their reactions weren't very encouraging.
The reactions tended to be something along the lines of:
"Oh that guy? He's been saying he has a film in the work for years. I wish him the best, but he keeps saying he's about to release his film every year and nothing."
My heart sank.
Something inside me told me that I should still root for this film, though I should not hold my breath.
I joined the relevant groups on Facebook and even became friends with Brendon Marotta on there. Sure enough, updates that the film was "almost finished" always found their way on my news feed. I very recently joined Twitter, where I noticed there was a profile for Brendon, his film and every thing.
As on Facebook, I kept seeing updates that the film was "almost finished," and that they were just getting ready to release it. Little by little, these updates began to blend in with the background as I started to tune them out.
That is, until my eyes caught an update that not only was the film screened at the Lone Star Film Festival, "American Circumcision" won the Best Documentary Film Award!!!
Brendon Marotta holding the Lone Star Film Festival Best Documentary Film Award.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Could it be true?
I waited for a little longer, and this news was followed by Tweet after Tweet of congratulations, and finally a personal note on his experience with the film's reception.
The screening of @circmovie at #LSFF was truly incredible. People laughed at the right parts, cried deeply at others, and some even stood to applaud at the end. Full theater, great screening.— Brendon Marotta (@bdmarotta) November 13, 2017
That's when I decided this news warranted a blog post, especially since the film is scheduled to be screened again at the Social Justice Film Festival in Seattle, Washington, this Sunday, November 19th, appropriately International Men's Day.
And so with this blog post I shout out to Brendon Marotta; congratulation on the completion of your film, and on receiving the Best Documentary Film Award. Your long hours of patient, hard work have paid off. I wish your film much success. May thousands be reached as a result of your work.
Readers interested in viewing the film at the Social Justice Film Festival can purchase admission tickets here. I include the trailer below:
External links:
Official American Circumcision Film Website
Official Social Justice Film Festival Website
#LSFF #SocialJustice #FilmFestival #InternationalMensDay #i2
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