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Tying the Knot

Play trailer Poster for Tying the Knot Released May 5, 2004 1h 25m Documentary LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Jim de Sève examines the emotional and legal struggles of a Florida policewoman and an Oklahoma farmer after the deaths of their respective same-sex life partners. De Sève highlights voices on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate and traces the history of marriage as a legal, social and religious construction in the United States, ultimately drawing parallels between the language used to denounce same-sex marriage in the 2000s and the anti-miscegenation rhetoric of the 1950s.
Tying the Knot

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Critics Consensus

Tying the Knot untangles a hot button political issue by putting a personal face on it -- and making its arguments with an effective blend of facts and feelings.

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Critics Reviews

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Mary Brennan Seattle Times A quietly effective exploration of the divisive subject of gay marriage in America. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 22, 2004 Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution Personalizes the political with two heart-rending real-life cases. Rated: B Oct 14, 2004 Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen The Hollywood Reporter It may not be the most meticulously crafted documentary in the world, but what Tying the Knot lacks in finesse it compensates for in making a heartfelt case for the hot-button topic of same-sex marriage. Oct 7, 2004 Full Review Dave White The Advocate Traditional in form, peppered with commentary from academics, lawmakers, and religious conservatives, Knot makes up in sincerity what it lacks in style. May 27, 2022 Full Review Jeremy C. Fox Pajiba Tying the Knot is effective ... in its depiction of the struggle for same-sex couples to achieve legal equality, but it gives short shrift to the opposing arguments. Sep 16, 2005 Full Review David Cornelius eFilmCritic.com Tying the Knot is a flawed work that succeeds on the merits of its highly touching personal stories and its irrefutable debate. Rated: 3/5 Aug 20, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I cried throughout most of this film...incredibly moving and incredibly depressing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Even a documentary has to be able to tell a narrative story successfully. Tying the Knot doesn't. It skips from one story to another, jumping in at arbitrary points and then leaving without properly resolution. It does take a stab at being useful by beginning to explore how marriage has changed over the centuries, though even that thesis is discarded all too quickly. This is neither the macro or the micro story of the issue; Tying the Knot ties itself up in knots trying to do too many things at the same time. Not of which are done particularly well, unfortunately. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Very interesting bit on the origins of marriage and changes that have occurred over time... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Not one for crying during films, I confess that a tear welled in my eye on more than one occasion while watching this documentary on the societal constructs of wedlock, and the discrimination against same-sex marriage. Because of the stance the film takes, many people will be turned off to the subject matter. As a documentary, it stood on its feet firmly. Besides showing footage of rallies, the political windbags' testimony before Congress, and using case studies to outline the loss of constitutional rights by widowed partners, there is also a brief overview of the history of the definition of marriage, and several interviews with activists, politicians, clerks, and gay couples. The opposite side of the debate wasn't given much time except for sound bites that weren't taken out of context, but sure made for an interesting argument. In all, half the film made me overwhelmed with sentimentality and the other held contempt and disgust prevalent in my mind. Not pure entertainment, but a message of hope and civil liberties, your enjoyment will be based on frame of mind. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Really informative for those, like me, who don't follow the law and politics to a T. And the second half really shoves real life cases in your face to show that everyone deserves the right to be married (plus the benefits) if they have already committed themselves to that person for such a long time. It can be very frustrating when you see the extreme religious people protesting against gay marriage but for the most part they showed a lot of people who were fighting for it. I just hope one day people will look past their own personal beliefs and realize that any two consenting adults should have the same rights that straight people have had for so many years. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Even a documentary has to be able to tell a narrative story successfully. Tying the Knot doesn't. It skips from one story to another, jumping in at arbitrary points and then leaving without properly resolution. It does take a stab at being useful by beginning to explore how marriage has changed over the centuries, though even that thesis is discarded all too quickly. This is neither the macro or the micro story of the issue; Tying the Knot ties itself up in knots trying to do too many things at the same time. Not of which are done particularly well, unfortunately. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Tying the Knot

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jim de Sève examines the emotional and legal struggles of a Florida policewoman and an Oklahoma farmer after the deaths of their respective same-sex life partners. De Sève highlights voices on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate and traces the history of marriage as a legal, social and religious construction in the United States, ultimately drawing parallels between the language used to denounce same-sex marriage in the 2000s and the anti-miscegenation rhetoric of the 1950s.
Director
Jim de Sève
Producer
Jim de Sève
Distributor
IDP Distribution
Production Co
1,049 Films
Genre
Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 5, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.5K
Runtime
1h 25m