Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Powerful

Captivating movie !

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

I highly recommend watching this film with a loved one so you have someone to hold and use as a human tissue, rather than seeing it all by yourself cold and alone on a laptop at 2am like i did.rest in peace andrew and zachary bagby. everyone should see this film; those who grew up here in newfoundland, and especially those suffering from suicidal thoughts. nothing but love for kathleen and david bagby. god help us all.

"Dear Zachary" rises above any documentary. It transcends all of them, and calling it a documentary almost seems to be an insult. And please don't read this review or any other review before watching it. Go in as blind as possible."Dear Zachary" is a film that Kurt Kuenne began making in 2001 after he received the news that one of his best friends, Andrew Bagby, had been murdered. Since it was made by one of the victim's best friends, it gives it a much more personal standpoint than the distant point of view of the normal documentary. He began it to learn about the things he'd never known about his friend, and to make "one last film with him", as a sort of tribute. And just like that, he set out to meet everyone that had ever cared for Andrew. However, as many events began to occur over the course of the film, it began to be about so much more, and of course when Andrew's murderer and ex- girlfriend, Shirley Turner, was announced pregnant, Kurt knew he would be making "A Letter to a Son About His Father".The way the film is structured and edited makes it very emotional and somewhat intense. Many relating interviews are inter-cut and sometimes the audio will be overlapping to show the universal experience people had with this man, and who he really was. It also makes the pace of the film overall very fast, but some interviews are so heart-rending that they seem to go on for very long. Oh, and that's another thing: this film is SAD. REALLY, REALLY SAD. This film will play your emotions like a flute. You will be angry, depressed, happy, melancholy, and then sad again. But it's also incredibly beautiful and inspiring in a way no film that I've seen has ever been before.The film shows the infuriating injustices in the court system and the government. And one big problem, among others, is how impersonal it is. The lawyer simply recites the most obscure laws to try and defend their client, with no real empathy for the victims. And since the judge doesn't seem to care much either, she simply allows this. Both of those positions possess a lot of power, but neither of them seem to realize what is on the line. They don't think about the lives behind the people in the court, and this leads to a serious abuse of their power. It makes me think too. When I see that a murder happened in the news, I simply say "that's awful" and move on with my day. I never thought about the families of the victims, or the people that he/she affected. This film is so much more than a tribute. And I'm not talking about the bits of political commentary in it. That's not what this film originally set out to do, and in the end of the day it's only really a side effect of what it really does. It not only made me think about others' lives more, and the people that care about them, but about me, and my own life. It made me think about the people I care about, and the people that care about me. It made me realize how many people each person affects, and how precious life really is, and how abruptly it can end. It's a morbid thought, but the people you love most could be gone tomorrow suddenly.I don't think a film will ever truly be able to tell the full story of a man's life, and who he was, and who he cared about and who cared about him, and why. But this is about as close as any film will ever get to doing that.

I watched this documentary tonight and apart from being in tears, I'm actually very moved. What an amazing documentary! I must say after watching it that i think Andrew's parents (Zachary's grandparents) are truly amazing! The way they changed their whole life and fought to be a part of their grandsons life is so inspiring. I must hand it to them i couldn't have the strength to play nice with the woman i knew killed my son. I think it's great how so many of Andrew's friends talked so highly of him and continue to support his parents after his death. When i was watching it i was hoping really for a happy ending where Zachary could be with his grandparents but unfortunately that didn't happen. Be prepared to use tissues because this is an extremely sad story.

The writer did a good job with this documentary originally made for Zachary. He is no professional but his heart was in this completely. He wrote it with such Love that it left me with no choice but to Fall in Love with this precious family. My heart breaks for the the grandparents as their lives were shattered by a great loss not once but twice. I hope the Judicial system has been bettered after this Heartbreaking tragedy. I have recommended this film to many friends and family, it has humbled me and taught me to be appreciative of my family and to hug my little ones closer. This is a definite watch for everyone, I really wish it were just a well thought up movie and not the harsh reality of the screwed up judicial system not only in Canada but in the USA as well..