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Jump to the good stuff: About the Movie | The Story | Thoughts and Final Verdict

About the Movie:

Prayers for Bobby is a 2009 Lifetime movie based on the true story of Bobby Griffith, a gay man whose family’s homophobia drove him to commit suicide in 1983. The film reached over 6 million viewers over two days when it was first released.

The Story:

Bobby Griffith (Ryan Kelley) comes from a devout Christian family. Due to their religious beliefs, they view homosexuality as an abomination. He realizes that he’s gay and is fearful that his family will turn him away if they find out. Both Bobby’s mother, Mary (Sigourney Weaver), and his grandmother are very vocal about their disgust towards gay people. Bobby’s anxiety and growing desperation about his sexuality gets him to consider suicide as a way out. Taking a bottle of aspirin from the medicine cabinet, he attempts suicide, only to be found by his older brother, Ed (Austin Nichols). Bobby reluctantly confesses to Ed that he’s gay and asks him not to tell anybody.

Concerned about his brother, Ed tells their mother, who overreacts and takes Bobby to a psychiatrist who can change him. Mary posts biblical verses around the house about the sin of homosexuality. This forces Bobby to move to Portland, Oregon and live with his cousin Jeanette (Rebecca Louise Miller).

Jeanette introduces Bobby to gay clubs and introduces him to her friends, most of whom are openly gay. Despite this, Bobby remains haunted by his religious upbringing and the pain of losing his family. Soon thoughts of suicide resurface, and he jumps off a highway overpass.

The remainder of Prayers for Bobby is about Mary Griffith struggling with the loss of her son. Luckily Weaver does a good job bringing some humanity to Mary and making her sympathetic. The loss of her son is a major turning point for Mary. It makes her question her beliefs, judgment and what drove Bobby to such desperate measures.

Thoughts and Final Verdict:

The acting overall is what you can expect for a made for TV movie, and Weaver shines because of it. The script is serviceable, as is the direction, making the movie watchable. Prayers for Bobby also does a good job with a difficult topic. Bobby’s suicide is effective and elicits a shock without being graphic. The sensitive topic of religious belief, especially when it comes to homosexuality, is handled tactfully.

Prayers for Bobby is an important film that reached more people by being televised than it would have with a theatrical release. While the film benefits from the casting of Sigourney Weaver, it suffers from the mediocre talent made-for-TV projects attract.

The film is just as topical today as it was during its 2009 release. With a more competent cast and director, Prayers for Bobby would be a much more powerful film.