Emma Smith: My Story

Cinematically this is a low budget film. But when one really knows how this movie came to be, I can only applaud and respect the Joseph and Emma Smith family for making such a fine and accurate portrayal of their progenitors. Much of the dialog came directly from journals of the children Emma raised who wrote what their mother told them about the events discussed. This film had NOTHING to do with the LDS church today, and is not "propaganda" for any organization. From all of the research I have done on Joseph Smith I saw nothing amiss; on the contrary I believe it minimally accurately portrayed the wonderful person that had such a profound and positive affect on thousands of individuals. If anything it very much under portrayed him, but this was not about Joseph, it was about Emma. I found it to be very even keeled in portraying her and the unspeakable difficulties she endured. The parts I enjoyed the most was the very touching and real love that existed between her and her husband. My 4th great grandfather (Bishop Frederick Kesler 1816-1899) knew both of the real people portrayed in this film, and kept a very detailed journal which I have transposed to computer (1600 pages). There is not single negative word written about either. On the contrary, all evidences of eye witnesses recounted there-in speak entirely respectfully of Joseph, and Emma. My great grandfather also married many young women who were respectfully named Emma. Both shadows of Joseph and Emma stand very tall and majestically on the people who really knew them for generations. This film by all the factual documents I have encountered is entirely accurate. From all accounts I have read, a true accurate portrayal of the character and stature of either Joseph or Emma is probably impossible, as most who knew Joseph said they had never known a greater more dignified and kind gentleman. Well cast, the Emma character seemed to approach the stature of the woman that could endure what Emma really did.

Seeing EMMA SMITH: MY STORY in the theatre was a pleasant surprise! Who would have ever thought the time would come when a commercial theatre would be offering such an inspiring film as this one turns out to me. Professional on every level with special praise going to T.C. Christensen's magnificent cinematography, Merrill Jenson's perfect score (one that I hope comes out on CD), down to Sheri Ohman's outstanding costumes. Technically, in every way, this has a look that matches anything to come out of Hollywood. The performances, especially by Katherine Thompson (as the young Emma Hale Smith), Patricia Place (marvelous as the older Emma), and Nathan Mitchell as Joseph Smith, make flesh and blood people of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale who became his wife. There is a special feeling and beauty in seeing the restoration of the gospel told through the eyes of the woman who was called on to endure so much. This is a faith promoting experience that deeply touched me almost from the moment it started. The quality of the film matches that of the films produced and shown by the LDS Church (and that's saying a great deal), but has the advantage of a longer running time to explore and develop the love between Jospeh and Emma then could be done with limitations of a shorter running time. Gary Cook and T.C. Christensen have teamed up as directors and have been inspired to create a motion picture that I found to be truly inspiring! This is one of the finest films that I have ever experienced.

The reason for my poor review has less to do with the technical quality of the film than with its content. Actually, it's fairly well made for a straight to DVD historical biopic. It's simply not a very accurate account of Mormon history. The reasons for anti-Mormon sentiment in Missouri and elsewhere isn't mentioned at all, and polygamy is only mentioned in passing. Not a single one of Joseph Smith's 25+ other wives is even mentioned, nor is the 5000 man strong Nauvoo Legion or Smith's attempts to establish a theocratic dictatorship everywhere he went.

I know a lot of Mormons, and they are almost universally nice and respectable people. I just wish for once that they would own up to their somewhat sordid past.

This film was wonderfully done with a great soundtrack. Unlike past LDS historical films, where the focus is Joseph Smith or Bringham Young, this film is about Emma, her perspective, and how she saw things.

It's narrative/conversation that Emma is having later on in life with her daughter Julia Murdock Smith, about all of the events that surrounded her and Joseph-thru *her* perspective.

The film touches on all the controversial issues, and doesn't gloss over them.

Whether you are LDS or not, you will appreciate this film, it is touching, honest and both heart wrenching and heartwarming.

Go see it.

:)

David

I really wasn't planning on seeing this movie, because I haven't always been impressed with the movies about LDS subjects put out by others besides the LDS church. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the entire movie. It was done in such a way that it kept one's interest, and also showed the depth of feeling that Emma must have had in her life with Joseph Smith. I thought it revealed the anguish that she felt in his suffering and her compassion for Joseph and their children. It also showed the happiness and intimacy they shared as a married couple. It touched on all the important issues that would have affected Emma. I thought the polygamy issue was handled well, in that not a lot is known about what went on at the time, and many of the stories that have been told about Joseph and polygamy are untrue or exaggerated. In the movie, Emma did say that it was the hardest thing they had to deal with, and I imagine it was. I'm not sure anymore could be truthfully portrayed, considering the controversial nature of the subject. I loved the musical score -- especially how the old hymns were scored. The cinematography was professional. As a woman, I thought the movie an appropriate portrayal of a wife, daughter, mother, and woman of faith.