Saturday, July 14 @ 12:30 PM | Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center – 138 W. Broadway (300 South)
Directed by Bobbie Birleffi + Beverly Kopf
96 MIN | 2011 | USA | Not Rated
Every evening Chely Wright said the same prayer, “Please God don’t let me be gay,” terrified her family, friends, religion and fan base would reject her once they found out the truth.
Directed by Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf, Wish Me Away follows Country Western’s only openly gay performer Chely Wright, in the months leading up to her book release and her public “outing” campaign.
Interviews with Chely’s inner circle reveal her dedication to covering up any traces of her sexual orientation and the true depths of this beautiful and talented young woman’s isolation and self-loathing.
Despite the strides made around the world for acceptance and equality, we learn of the prejudices and fear that remain in the Country Music scene. A rich back story, archival footage, family drama and celebrity gossip reel the viewer in, but Chely’s sensitivity and vulnerability have you anxiously anticipating her big announcement.
Can Chely forge a new path? Will she lose everything she has worked so hard to build? We wait with bated breath to see how Chely’s world will change forever once she’s honest about who she is and stops wishing and praying her true self away. – Mariah Mellus
Winner: Grand Jury Prize, Best Documentary Feature – Los Angeles Film Festival; Outstanding Documentary Feature – San Francisco LGBT Festival; Audience Award, Best Documentary – Palm Springs International Film Festival; Audience Award, Favorite Documentary Film’ Jury Award, Best Documentary – Philadelphia Q Fest + seven more
