VAL | PRAY AWAY
Pop Culture Weekly Round-Up 06/08/2021
This week’s newsletter has thoughts on two documentaries I’ve watched this week. VAL, a melancholic but very interesting doc about the actor Val Kilmer. And PRAY AWAY on Netflix. The film tells the story of regretful leaders of the Exodus International organization that promoted the concept that homosexuality could be reversed. Just gross but an important watch. And talking about Netflix, I have watched three episodes of the docuseries COCAINE COWBOYS and so far I’m really enjoying it. I can’t wait to watch the remaining three episodes. There’s also a playlist of five songs I enjoyed this week.
VAL
VAL is a raw and incredibly original documentary about a life lived to the extremes, as well as a heartfelt look at what it means to be an artist. The documentary was directed by Ting Poo and Leo Scott. And it is an extremely touching and incredibly intimate film about the enigmatic actor and movie star Val Kilmer. Not only is Kilmer the focus of this film but he also earns a cinematography credit for it. That's because the documentary is based on hundreds of hours of footage that he has been shooting since he was a child.
VAL, which is more of a self-portrait than a profile, chronicles the narrative of a Hollywood career with honesty. I enjoyed viewing footage of him as a child and behind-the-scenes material from his most popular films. His famous, maybe Oscar-worthy performances, in The Doors and Tombstone give the doc a nice visual texture. The film is narrated by his son, Jack Kilmer, using his father's words. The reason for that is that Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer a few years ago. And while the treatment luckily eliminated the disease, it also destroyed his throat and vocal cords to the point that he can only communicate via a hole in his neck
The film is emotional and candid. It explores the remarkable personal and professional accomplishments and tribulations via an extraordinarily and unique perspective. This is a must-see if you're already a fan. If you're not, I'd recommend it just for the fascinating depiction of an interesting Hollywood star.
PRAY AWAY
The Netflix documentary PRAY AWAY is a compelling exposé on conversion therapy programs, highlighting the devastation caused by shame and repression via intimate accounts from current and past participants of the pray the gay away movement.
Kristine Stolakis, the director, follows four former leaders of the extinct Exodus movement from a couple of decades ago. Stolakis cleverly interweaves recent interviews with archival footage of these key participants in the movement, all of whom have abandoned their positions and are now living as out gays or bisexuals.
The documentary also includes one activist, Jeffrey McCall, who identifies as previously transgender and continues to advocate for the same principles as the Exodus movement did. It's really painful to see how he has been brainwashed.
It would be intriguing to watch a follow-up to PRAY AWAY in a few years to see where Jeffrey McCall's quest takes him.
PRAY AWAY is one of the most upsetting films to be released in a long time. The trauma and psychological effects of conversion therapy on the LGBTQ+ community are devastating and were very well demonstrated in this documentary.
Top 5 songs
These were the 5 songs on my heavy rotation this week. You can listen to them on Spotify and YouTube.
1 - Sleigh Bells - Locust Laced
2 - LiL Lotus - Rooftop
3 - All Time Low feat. Pale Waves - PMA
4 - UPSAHL - Time of my Life
5 - Jelani Aryeh - A Piece of Your Mind