Dove Review

Second Samuel is a poignant film that introduces the viewer to the townspeople of Second Samuel, Georgia. As they move throughout the chores and activities of their days, the tight-knit community comes to life. Bernard Flat, also called affectionately B Flat by his friends, is one of the townspeople who has an intellectual disability and narrates several letters that he has written to President Harry S. Truman about what is going on in his town.

As the story unfolds, one of the most beloved community members has recently died and the town is deeply saddened. However, when the mortician begins to prepare her body for final viewing and burial, he and Omaha Nebraska, the local beautician, make a shocking discovery – Ms. Gertrude wasn’t a woman at all! She was a man!

This upsetting development turns everything upside down as each person in the community struggles to work through his feelings about Ms. Gertrude. Many people are able to remember her as a caring and loving member of their town, regardless of whether she was a man or a woman. However, not everyone feels the same and others who have strong feelings about gender identity do not want to accept the truth about their well-liked and selfless community member.

Through the chaos of it all, B Flat speaks truth and love to his neighbors and friends and reminds them that in spite of this unexpected find, the most important things to remember about our loved ones are the ways they have positively impacted our lives. As a result, the town of Second Samuel comes together to pay their respects for the woman they knew as Ms. Gertrude.

The film’s overarching theme is meant to serve as a reminder to love others, regardless of their sins and secrets. Meanwhile, parents should take caution and be prepared to discuss gender identity in light of Scripture. Swear words and racial slurs are scattered throughout the film, in addition to bar-brawling violence, but the themes of love and community award this film Dove-approval for Ages 12+.

The Dove Take:

The people of Second Samuel work through a divisive surprise about a beloved friend; however, parents should be prepared to discuss critical social issues.

Dove Rating Details

1

Faith

Several references to Jesus, God and heaven, “meeting God,” “the Bible says,” as the men are discussing the shock of their discovery (at the bar) they remind each other about what the Bible says about loving your neighbor, being a good Sam

0

Integrity

Women squabble and one slaps the other on the cheek, arguing and yelling when the townspeople discover Ms. Gertrude’s secret; one lady whacks Marcella on the back of the head when she says that B Flat doesn’t understand what’s going on, cross-burning

0

Sex

None

2

Language

hell – 4, butt – 4, s*#t – 1, kinky – 1, “demon child” – 1, “retard” – 1, dumb – 1, SOB – 1, “what in the devil?”, nigger

2

Violence

Women squabble and one slaps the other on the cheek, arguing and yelling when the townspeople discover Ms. Gertrude’s secret; one lady whacks Marcella on the back of the head when she says that B Flat doesn’t understand what’s going on, cross-burning

1

Drugs

Mild alcohol use for recreation, several townspeople run to the bar and the beauty shop to take a shot of alcohol

0

Nudity

None

2

Other

Crude references to people with intellectual disabilities, mild racism, regular discussions and arguments about Ms. Gertrude being transgender, Omaha chases Marcelle around the beauty salon lifting her skirt a little to harass her about who’s gender is “real”