USA – 2013 – 112 MIN – COLOUR - FEATURE - IN ENGLISH
A FILM BY BEN COTNER AND RYAN WHITE
Battles are won because we fight them.
A behind-the-scenes look inside the historic case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. The high-profile trial first makes headlines with the unlikely pairing of Ted Olson and David Boies, political foes who last faced off as opposing attorneys in Bush v. Gore. The film also follows the plaintiffs, two gay couples who find their families at the center of the same-sex marriage controversy. Five years in the making, this is the story of how they took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"A feel-good legal story about the U.S. Supreme Court’s squeaker decision on California’s anti-gay marriage law, Proposition 8, THE CASE AGAINST 8 is a slickly told tale that begs for movie-of-the-week treatment.”
- THE GLOBE AND MAIL
"Well-timed for Toronto release during World Pride celebrations, THE CASE AGAINST 8 tells its inspiring story through the experiences of Kris Perry and spouse Sandy Stier and Paul Katami and his spouse Jeff Zarrillo.”
- THE TORONTO STAR
“Cotner and White’s handling of a hugely divisive topic is masterful… Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, THE CASE AGAINST 8 is essential viewing.”
- THE NATIONAL POST
"THE CASE AGAINST 8 is just as much a courtroom drama, a soap opera and a family channel special feature as much as it’s an LGBTQ anthem because it’s about people first, politics second and the fear and loathing that lasts without reason.”
- O.CANADA.COM (POSTMEDIA)
NNNN! "The film fascinates in part because the legal team behind the couples – and the American Foundation for Equal Rights that supported them – included Republican stalwart Ted Olson and Democrat David Boies, who had squared off in the famous Bush vs. Gore case, the 2000 battle over whether there should be a recount in Florida. Here they’re warm and toasty together and passionately committed to a progressive cause.”
- NOW MAGAZINE
“...an often moving account of the federal court challenge that quashed California’s controversial Proposition 8 and set the rest of America on the course towards marriage equality.”
- THE GRID
“...THE CASE AGAINST 8 wrings emotion from an important issue even as it's hampered by the inherent difficulties in making the litigation and bureaucracy involved all that dramatic. “
- EXCLAIM!
"Go see THE CASE AGAINST 8. It is a documentary for our time. It’s also only screening for a limited time, so be sure to get in that line early."
- TORONTO FILM SCENE
- TORONTO FILM SCENE (INTERVIEW w Ben Cotner & Ryan White)
- DORK SHELF (INTERVIEW w Ben Cotner & Ryan White)
Rating: “...filmmakers Ryan White and Ben Cotner have created not only a well crafted look at one of the hardest fought civil rights victories in world history, but also a great story about rivals working together for a common cause and probably one of the most balanced looks at the intricacies and downfalls of the American legal system. It’s power is undeniable and it’s depressing that everyone involved had to go to such lengths for a simple piece of paper, but it also crackles with the drama of great fiction."
- DORK SHELF
- SCENE CREEK (INTERVIEW w Ben Cotner & Ryan White)
"THE CASE AGAINST 8 is a profoundly important human rights film that should be seen by everyone, no matter which side of the issue you stand on."
- BLACK SHEEP REVIEWS
(Interview by Katherine Monk)
- CBC RADIO (All Points West)
“…[a] massively important documentary"
- WYLIE WRITES
"The doc THE CASE AGAINST 8 – about the dogged journey through the U.S. court system to overturn California’s anti-gay-marriage initiative Proposition 8 – is an inspiring story in its own right.”
- 24HRS (Vancouver)
XTRA: Video interview with directors