From Executive Producer Martin Scorsese comes a documentary about Father James Martin, the most vocal voice for LBGTQ acceptance within the Roman Catholic Church. Fr. Martin, who also wrote a best selling book on the subject, has spoken at international conferences and even had an audience with Pope Francis. He’s appeared on many television shows including Anderson Cooper 360 and The Colbert Report, where he was sometimes referred to as the Chaplain of Colbert Nation. 

Many LGBTQ Christians don’t feel welcome in the church communities, feeling like their faith is at odds with who they are. Similarly, Christian parents and families of LGBTQ people often struggle to reconcile their faith with their loved one’s identity. For the people living this conflict, Fr. Martin’s ministry of acceptance can be life changing. In this film we see people burst into tears as they feel acceptance from their church for the first time. We also meet several of the families who have been touched by his ministry, including a devoutly Catholic mother whose gay son was murdered at Pulse Nightclub. 

Co-directed by documentarians Evan Mascagni and Shannon Post, Building a Bridge is an exceptionally well-made film that takes a topic which has been associated with so much pain and turns it into an uplifting, even inspirational film. Much like Fr. Martin, this film doesn’t get bogged down in nitty-gritty theology and doctrines, but rather focuses on love and acceptance. The film also profiles some of the loudest voices trying to silence Fr. Martin. Their message of anger stands in stark contrast to the love that we see flow forward from Fr. Martin. Ultimately, Building a Bridge is about a man who has brought hope and love to thousands of people and who is poised to bring that same message to everyone who sees this film.

~ Steve Weisenreder