Bridegroom
A grieving young man transforms the exclusion he suffered after his partner’s death into a deeply personal case for marriage equality.
Overview
A poignant exploration of love and loss that challenges societal norms.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- poignant
- enraging
- intimate
- reflective viewing
- social justice discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary as a simply told, exceptionally moving account of first love, untimely death, and the human consequences of marriage inequality.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Shane's mourning and the treatment of his relationship after Tom's death are presented as evidence in the marriage-equality case.
Shane's YouTube tribute, It Could Happen To You, motivates the film and frames his story for a mass audience.
Talking-head interviews with Shane, family members, and the couple's friends collectively reconstruct the relationship and its aftermath.
The documentary focuses on Shane's exclusion and ostracization after Tom's accidental death because they were not legally married.
Films like Bridegroom, and why
The Case Against 8
emotionally direct lgbtq documentary filmmaking centered on love, loss, and marriage equality
The Times of Harvey Milk
intimate lgbtq documentary portrait combining personal testimony with a broader marriage-equality struggle
How to Survive a Plague
poignant social-issue documentary using personal stories to illuminate lgbtq rights and community resilience
Movie Details
- Director
- Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
- Release Date
- 2013-04-23
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (90)
Cast
- Thomas Bridegroom
- Shane Bitney Crone
- Cindy Bitney
- David Crone
- Lizzy Mohl
- Judy Crone
- Pat Managhan
- Jessica Mitchell
- Sasha Andreev
- Chelsea Cannell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bridegroom about?
- A grieving young man transforms the exclusion he suffered after his partner’s death into a deeply personal case for marriage equality.
- What is Bridegroom like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bridegroom as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Bridegroom violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bridegroom as mild.
- What did critics think of Bridegroom?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary as a simply told, exceptionally moving account of first love, untimely death, and the human consequences of marriage inequality.
- Which films are like Bridegroom?
- Films with a similar feel include The Case Against 8, The Times of Harvey Milk, and How to Survive a Plague.
- How long is Bridegroom?
- Bridegroom runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bridegroom?
- In United States, Bridegroom is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
