David, Kate and Baby Zachary Bagby
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Grade: A
Dir: Kurt Kuenne
Having just finished watching the documentary “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father“, I am writing this in a very emotional state. It is one of the most powerful, unforgettable documentaries I have ever seen and a glimpse into the darkest recesses of the soul that is ultimately trumped by love and friendship.
I heard some details about the case years ago, and then saw a lot about the documentary from fellow bloggers when it first came out last year but, as usual, I stayed away from any information until I had the opportunity to see the film myself. While it was worth the wait, it is an emotionally devastating film.
The film tells the story of Dr. Andrew David Bagby and his murder at the hands of ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner, who we learn was pregnant with Andrew’s baby at the time of the murder. The film follows Andrew’s parents, Kate and David, as they fly to Newfoundland to help bring justice to his son and to be there for their grandson, the beautiful and luminous Zachary. The documentary tracks their journey through the eyes of Kurt Kuenne, one of Andrew’s lifelong friends. The film travails the line between an intimate family portrait and an exposé of the Canadian law system effortlessly and painstakingly.
Much of the intimacy of the film is due to the vast amount of footage Kuenne had of Andrew Bagby and his family. As a child, Kurt was an aspiring filmmaker, and Andrew (and his parents) starred in many of his early movies. Because of this footage, we are able to see Andrew grow up from a playful, mischevious kid into a doctor. Throughout, we hear from Andrew’s large family and even larger group of friends. It is not too long before you start caring for this person and the little boy he’d never meet.
I experienced a broad range of emotions watching “Dear Zachary”; mostly anger and frustration, but also love for the Bagby family. Kuenne achieves something amazing: he transcends the familiar documentary techniques and imbues the genre with a raw approach that has an immediacy I have not seen on the screen since “Hoop Dreams.”
The film shows us a lot of darkness, but the light shines through every single time. The film also gives us a glimpse of two veritable heroes in Kate and David Bagby — a couple who acted with superhuman strength and dignity in the face of evil. They are remarkable.
Lawyer by day, blogger by night.
The parents of Andrew are absolutely remarkable. The poise and strength they have shown to make it through this nightmare is amazing. They are truly helping to make the world a better place. They could have just laid down and died, but they are fighting for all the other parents and children out there who are in unsafe situations due to the faulty justice system.
Current events that are happening on front of america’s eyes right now that needs to be stopped. Bruce Beresford Redmon cold bloodily murdered his wife and childrens mother Monica in Cancun last year, and is walking free in a remarkably similar case. He has full access to his children and not enough people are lobbying to help Monica’s family to get this man locked up. When will people open their eyes? When something happens to those babies.
It has happened once before, history repeats itself, we need to stop this now. How do you think Andrews parents feel watching that guy on TMZ a free man? Unbelievable. Where are our morals? Where is our team spirit America and Canada. We need to get off our couches and away from our TV’s and help to make our countries safer and get these people locked up or better yet…