Deep Dive: Valentine Road (2013)
Film Lens
Valentine Road is a documentary directed by Marta Cunningham that examines the murder of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old openly gay student, who was shot by his classmate Brandon McInerney in 2008. The film addresses the complexities surrounding the case, particularly the media's portrayal of King, which Cunningham found to be homophobic. By attending McInerney's pre-trial motions and hearings, Cunningham uncovered a deeper narrative that was not being represented in mainstream coverage.
Set in Oxnard, California, Cunningham spent five years building trust within the community and gathering over 350 hours of footage. The documentary runs for 89 minutes and includes archival news footage, school surveillance video, and courtroom renderings. It serves as a memorial to King, who was living in a group home away from his adoptive parents at the time of his death. The film aired on HBO in 2013 and received Emmy nominations for Best Documentary and Best Longform Narrative.
Why Watch
- •Meet Lawrence King, a bold cross-dressing teen.
- •See the courtroom drama of Brandon McInerney's trial.
- •Find out how media misrepresented King's story.
Did You Know
•Marta Cunningham spent five years making Valentine Road.
•Lawrence King was shot in his middle school classroom in 2008.
•Cunningham accumulated over 350 hours of footage for the film.
•The documentary was nominated for two Emmys at the 35th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
Perfect For
LGBTQ+ issuesTrue crime enthusiastsDocumentary lovers