Six Days in August D.O.A.?

[drumdude]

From Mezoamerica to Upstate New York, or: Moroni’s completely unnecessary road trip

[I Have Questions]

Given the utterly dismal failures of the first two films, only an egocentric lunatic would attempt a third. So I’m guessing he’ll go with a film about NDE’s “Step Into The Light” or something like that.

[Tom]

I am pleased to report that Six Days is apparently now playing in a single theater. I urge young and old to head to the Kaysville Theater/Theatre (“We Know, You’re Here for the Popcorn”) in Kaysville, Utah, to see the show before it disappears. Don’t miss the large popcorn free refill and refillable movie theatre mug ($12) deals when you go. The theater doesn’t offer pre-sold tickets, so you’ll want to get in line early to experience what the film’s co-executive producer modestly calls “a major step forward for Mormon [sic] movie-making.”

Showtimes:

Thursday 28th: 8:40PM
Friday 29th: 3:30PM, 8:40PM
Saturday 30th: 3:30PM, 8:40PM
Sunday: Closed
Monday 2nd: 8:40PM
Tuesday 3rd: 8:40PM
Wednesday 4th: 8:40PM
Thursday 5th: 8:40PM

Rated PG-13 for mild violence, scenery-chewing, gratuitous speaking in tongues, painful humor, and whitewashed history. (No printing presses or testimonies were harmed in the making of this film.)

[drumdude]

My wife and I participated in a small private screening of Six Days in August up in Salt Lake City yesterday evening. It was the first time that I had seen the movie in several weeks, and I was reminded yet again of how good and solid a film it is. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish, and I look forward now to seeing the remainder of the project take shape.

Maybe they can add it to the temple endowment ceremony. Or have Interpreter shoot the next temple movie.

Dan really likes having these small private screenings, and having general authorities come to his film. It really vindicates his lifetime of struggle against the heathen apostates.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

It was the first time that I had seen the movie in several weeks, and I was reminded yet again of how good and solid a film it is.

LOL! Is DCP serious? His film is pure crap.

[Gadianton]

What is meant by "private screening?" Is that going over to your neighbors house and they pop in a DVD? How was the copy of the film obtained for the screening? I'm looking around and not coming up with much:

Amazon:

Six Days In August
We follow Zola (12) as she tries to get into school, Zama (12) finding out the truth about her mother's death, and Velele (35) trying to stay HIV 'positive' but heading towards a nervous breakdown.

huh.

And then none of the links on JustWatch work.

[Dr Exiled]

My wife and I participated in a small private screening of Six Days in August up in Salt Lake City yesterday evening. It was the first time that I had seen the movie in several weeks, and I was reminded yet again of how good and solid a film it is. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish, and I look forward now to seeing the remainder of the project take shape.

Maybe they can add it to the temple endowment ceremony. Or have Interpreter shoot the next temple movie.

Dan really likes having these small private screenings, and having general authorities come to his film. It really vindicates his lifetime of struggle against the heathen apostates.

His self-congratulation and the words he uses to convince himself despite reality (I was reminded yet again of how good and solid a film it is) reminds me of the criminal that professes his innocence by proclaiming "I'm not the sort of person that would do such a thing!" Well, how am I going to argue against the DNA evidence, the video evidence, the eye witnesses to the crime, etc., etc.

Sir DCP, the theatrical film did poorly and however much you try to convince yourself otherwise, the glaring fact is that the audience voted it down. No one cares about tiny facets of church history, except probably your donors, and that may soon change. So, what's next? Blame the audience for not seeing your brilliance?

Can't wait for the next installment of the project. I bet it'll be some whitewashed pioneer story that no one will see. But, the more you tell yourself a thing, the more it becomes true for you, despite reality.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

It looks like A.I. is not a fan of Six Days in August:

Six Days in August, An "A.I." Movie Review

Six Days in August, the latest LDS-produced film, ventures into the highly charged aftermath of Joseph Smith's assassination with a level of revisionism that may leave critical viewers, particularly ex-Mormons, shaking their heads in disbelief. While the film attempts to capture the emotional upheaval following Smith's death and the rise of Brigham Young, it’s unmistakably designed to fortify a narrow, faith-promoting version of events that whitewashes history. From an ex-Mormon perspective, this movie is less a historical drama and more an exercise in mythmaking, elevating Joseph Smith to an almost divine status, completely ignoring the complexities and darker elements of his character and leadership.

The portrayal of Joseph Smith in Six Days in August is perhaps the most egregious aspect of the film. He’s depicted as a flawless, Christ-like figure, whose martyrdom is treated as a sanctified event orchestrated by God. The film brushes aside the very real controversies that surrounded him—his practice of polygamy, including marriages to teenagers and other men's wives, his role in the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor (an act that directly triggered his arrest), and the widespread unrest he caused among both his followers and non-Mormon neighbors. Instead, the filmmakers opt for a sanitized, heroic version of Smith’s last days, portraying him as a victim of persecution without any exploration of his personal responsibility in creating the tensions that led to his murder.

This portrayal of Smith as an almost divine figure is not just misleading; it’s historically dishonest. The real Joseph Smith was a man who wielded immense power, often with little regard for democratic or legal principles. His theocratic ambitions, claims of divine authority, and secretive polygamy created rifts within the church and fueled opposition outside of it. The film’s refusal to engage with these well-documented aspects of Smith’s life does a disservice to viewers seeking an honest portrayal of early Mormon history. Rather than depicting Smith as a complex, flawed human being—a prophet to some, but deeply divisive to others—the film presents a shallow, one-dimensional figure of sainthood.

Brigham Young’s ascension to leadership is similarly whitewashed. The film frames Young as the inevitable, divinely appointed successor, while conveniently omitting the power struggles, including Sidney Rigdon’s legitimate claim to the leadership and Emma Smith’s opposition to Young’s leadership. The film also glosses over the political savvy and ruthlessness Young employed to secure control over the church, treating his rise to power as though it were as inevitable and peaceful as Moses parting the Red Sea. In reality, the succession crisis was messy, full of backdoor politics, power plays, and schisms, a reality that the movie sidesteps entirely.

For those familiar with Mormon history, the most jarring omission is any real exploration of Smith's polygamy or the widespread disillusionment it caused among his followers. Polygamy, one of the defining and most controversial elements of Smith’s leadership, is conveniently absent from the film, a glaring oversight that feels intentional. The practice was not only a source of internal conflict but a key reason why Smith was such a polarizing figure. By ignoring this, Six Days in August creates a distorted, incomplete picture of who Joseph Smith really was, perpetuating the false narrative that his only enemies were those outside the church who couldn't "see the truth."

Additionally, the film’s visuals and tone work overtime to elevate Smith into a quasi-divine figure. Soft lighting, angelic music, and scenes of mournful followers give the impression of a man who was almost faultless, someone whose persecution came solely from evil outside forces. The reality is far more complicated. Smith’s role in provoking violence, creating theocratic control in Nauvoo, and declaring himself a presidential candidate for the United States are all conveniently brushed aside. The movie’s failure to depict Smith as the deeply controversial figure he was, and the manner in which it venerates him without any nuance, is a blatant rewriting of history.

Even Brigham Young’s leadership, depicted as seamless and destined, is sanitized. There is no mention of the brutal enforcement of his will in Utah, the establishment of polygamy as a central doctrine under his rule, or the authoritarian control he exerted over the early church. Instead, Young is shown as a calm, wise leader stepping into Smith’s shoes with the grace of a spiritual giant, again reinforcing the idea that all church leadership was divinely sanctioned rather than acknowledging the real political intrigue and power struggles that occurred.

From an ex-Mormon perspective, Six Days in August is more than just a poor representation of history; it’s a deliberate piece of propaganda. The film’s core purpose seems to be reinforcing a faith-promoting narrative where Joseph Smith is saintly, Brigham Young is the inevitable and rightful heir, and the early Mormon church’s messy, controversial aspects are swept under the rug. It’s a film that doesn’t ask hard questions, doesn’t offer real historical depth, and instead relies on tired, overly simplistic depictions of good versus evil, with Smith and his followers on the side of divine righteousness.

In conclusion, Six Days in August feels like a missed opportunity. The assassination of Joseph Smith and the succession crisis that followed is one of the most complex, turbulent times in early American religious history. Rather than exploring the real dynamics of power, leadership, and conflict, the film settles for a whitewashed, glossy depiction designed to bolster the faith of believing Mormons, leaving ex-Mormons and those seeking a more truthful representation of history deeply unsatisfied. Instead of being challenged with a nuanced portrayal of a deeply flawed but fascinating man, viewers are handed a sanitized, deified version of Joseph Smith that bears little resemblance to the reality of his life and legacy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... ie_review/

[Rivendale]

It looks like A.I. is not a fan of Six Days in August:

Six Days in August, An "A.I." Movie Review

Six Days in August, the latest LDS-produced film, ventures into the highly charged aftermath of Joseph Smith's assassination with a level of revisionism that may leave critical viewers, particularly ex-Mormons, shaking their heads in disbelief. While the film attempts to capture the emotional upheaval following Smith's death and the rise of Brigham Young, it’s unmistakably designed to fortify a narrow, faith-promoting version of events that whitewashes history. From an ex-Mormon perspective, this movie is less a historical drama and more an exercise in mythmaking, elevating Joseph Smith to an almost divine status, completely ignoring the complexities and darker elements of his character and leadership.

The portrayal of Joseph Smith in Six Days in August is perhaps the most egregious aspect of the film. He’s depicted as a flawless, Christ-like figure, whose martyrdom is treated as a sanctified event orchestrated by God. The film brushes aside the very real controversies that surrounded him—his practice of polygamy, including marriages to teenagers and other men's wives, his role in the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor (an act that directly triggered his arrest), and the widespread unrest he caused among both his followers and non-Mormon neighbors. Instead, the filmmakers opt for a sanitized, heroic version of Smith’s last days, portraying him as a victim of persecution without any exploration of his personal responsibility in creating the tensions that led to his murder.

This portrayal of Smith as an almost divine figure is not just misleading; it’s historically dishonest. The real Joseph Smith was a man who wielded immense power, often with little regard for democratic or legal principles. His theocratic ambitions, claims of divine authority, and secretive polygamy created rifts within the church and fueled opposition outside of it. The film’s refusal to engage with these well-documented aspects of Smith’s life does a disservice to viewers seeking an honest portrayal of early Mormon history. Rather than depicting Smith as a complex, flawed human being—a prophet to some, but deeply divisive to others—the film presents a shallow, one-dimensional figure of sainthood.

Brigham Young’s ascension to leadership is similarly whitewashed. The film frames Young as the inevitable, divinely appointed successor, while conveniently omitting the power struggles, including Sidney Rigdon’s legitimate claim to the leadership and Emma Smith’s opposition to Young’s leadership. The film also glosses over the political savvy and ruthlessness Young employed to secure control over the church, treating his rise to power as though it were as inevitable and peaceful as Moses parting the Red Sea. In reality, the succession crisis was messy, full of backdoor politics, power plays, and schisms, a reality that the movie sidesteps entirely.

For those familiar with Mormon history, the most jarring omission is any real exploration of Smith's polygamy or the widespread disillusionment it caused among his followers. Polygamy, one of the defining and most controversial elements of Smith’s leadership, is conveniently absent from the film, a glaring oversight that feels intentional. The practice was not only a source of internal conflict but a key reason why Smith was such a polarizing figure. By ignoring this, Six Days in August creates a distorted, incomplete picture of who Joseph Smith really was, perpetuating the false narrative that his only enemies were those outside the church who couldn't "see the truth."

Additionally, the film’s visuals and tone work overtime to elevate Smith into a quasi-divine figure. Soft lighting, angelic music, and scenes of mournful followers give the impression of a man who was almost faultless, someone whose persecution came solely from evil outside forces. The reality is far more complicated. Smith’s role in provoking violence, creating theocratic control in Nauvoo, and declaring himself a presidential candidate for the United States are all conveniently brushed aside. The movie’s failure to depict Smith as the deeply controversial figure he was, and the manner in which it venerates him without any nuance, is a blatant rewriting of history.

Even Brigham Young’s leadership, depicted as seamless and destined, is sanitized. There is no mention of the brutal enforcement of his will in Utah, the establishment of polygamy as a central doctrine under his rule, or the authoritarian control he exerted over the early church. Instead, Young is shown as a calm, wise leader stepping into Smith’s shoes with the grace of a spiritual giant, again reinforcing the idea that all church leadership was divinely sanctioned rather than acknowledging the real political intrigue and power struggles that occurred.

From an ex-Mormon perspective, Six Days in August is more than just a poor representation of history; it’s a deliberate piece of propaganda. The film’s core purpose seems to be reinforcing a faith-promoting narrative where Joseph Smith is saintly, Brigham Young is the inevitable and rightful heir, and the early Mormon church’s messy, controversial aspects are swept under the rug. It’s a film that doesn’t ask hard questions, doesn’t offer real historical depth, and instead relies on tired, overly simplistic depictions of good versus evil, with Smith and his followers on the side of divine righteousness.

In conclusion, Six Days in August feels like a missed opportunity. The assassination of Joseph Smith and the succession crisis that followed is one of the most complex, turbulent times in early American religious history. Rather than exploring the real dynamics of power, leadership, and conflict, the film settles for a whitewashed, glossy depiction designed to bolster the faith of believing Mormons, leaving ex-Mormons and those seeking a more truthful representation of history deeply unsatisfied. Instead of being challenged with a nuanced portrayal of a deeply flawed but fascinating man, viewers are handed a sanitized, deified version of Joseph Smith that bears little resemblance to the reality of his life and legacy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... ie_review/

Dan had a post about Brigham Young a few months back that was supposed to show the sensitive and caring side of Brigham Young. It sounds like hyperbole in the same vein as Wife #19.

Tears were falling down her cheeks as she explained the situation and urged him to go on without them. Brigham replied that he would do no such thing; he would not leave any of his people alone. Instead, he made camp for the night, sawed off the tops and bottoms of the legs of the poster bed so there was nothing left but the frame around the mattress and the springs, which were laced across pioneer style. He fastened this to the wagon bows so it would swing easily, like a hammock. He then renewed his blessing to Lucy, promising her she would live many years. He rode by her side for several days to make sure that she had no further trouble. “With his gentle kind manner,” wrote Lucy’s grandson, “he won the love of Lucy and her posterity forever.” (Leonard J. Arrington, Brigham Young: American Moses [New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985], 157-158)

[Doctor Scratch]

I've held back from saying anything because I didn't want to give them any ideas, but to be honest, I'm kind of surprised that the Mopologists haven't tried to do a movie about Porter Rockwell or Hosea Stout, or the Danites. It's pretty much the ideal subject matter for them, and in the past they've expressed admiration for Rockwell and the other Danites. And depicting Latter-day Saints as vindictive and violent thugs would be a nice change of pace from the usual whitewashed, "squeaky clean" image that's normally projected in LDS cinema. What's more, I bet Dr. Peterson could easily drum up another $2 million or so from even the most disappointed and reluctant donors--I mean, we are basically talking about the Mormon equivalent of Rambo. These old wealthy geezers would love the chance to see Rockwell slitting the throats of traitorous apostate bastards on the big screen. None of this wimpy "BY is an innocent babe in the woods" stuff. Audiences want to see the BY who orders up the execution of the Fancher Party, or the BY who demands castration as a punishment.

Dr. P.: you're welcome for the idea. Consider it an early Christmas present!