Sanpete Movies is full of misconceptions that, while sometimes amusing and even enlightening, are most often downright wrong. Let’s hope these break some myths and make your next movie night a bit more enjoyable!
1. The movie is all about religion.
While the characters in Sanpete Movie do talk about religion, it’s not the only topic they discuss! The film also deals with themes like family bonds and relationships – so don’t worry if you’re not a spiritual person. It will still appeal to you!
2. The people of Sanpete County are all LDS (Mormons).
They are not! In fact, there are folks from many different religious backgrounds that live in this area. What they all have in common is the sense of community and family that came from living here.
3. It’s only “okay” for kids who believe in God to watch this movie…
While it’s certainly not a movie about God, it does deal with religious themes – many families find it interesting and entertaining simply because of the cultural differences presented. There is no inappropriate language or content. Family-friendly fun for everyone!
4. The town of Mt. Pleasant is the only LDS community in Northern Utah.
While it was once home to a thriving community (the movie takes place in the early twentieth century), the last few decades have been tough on it. However, most of Sanpete County is still populated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and many descendants and relatives still live there.
5. The music sounds just like “Pocahontas” or other Disney movies…
The music does sound familiar (it’s based on old Rodgers & Hammerstein tunes as well as several LDS hymns and Primary songs), but you will be surprised at how unique each character’s tune really is!
6. This movie is only made for people who grew up in Sanpete.
Sanpete Movie doesn’t just appeal to folks who grew up here – it will appeal to anyone interested in learning about a different way of life, a simpler way of living, and the strong sense of community that can be found here.
7. The characters are all played by LDS actors.
While several members of the cast are LDS, many are not – and that’s okay! The movie is more about the characters than their religious affiliation (although there’s no denying there’s a lot of faith everywhere you look…)
8. You’ll never get tired of watching this movie over and over again…
Yes, that’s right – it’s a movie you can watch over and over again! It’s so entertaining, it has inspired fans to rewatch it on occasion. You can start your next family movie night with Sanpete Movie!
9. It’s all about the love story…
For most of the characters in the film, there is definitely a love story or two. However, these are not the main focus – characters come first, and relationships grow out of them. What happens between them isn’t as important as what they make happen for others…
10. It’s a cheesy feel-good movie…
While it is a very light, fun movie, it is also rather serious. There are lots of tender moments between characters that you’ll definitely want to savor. The film deals with death (both when it happens and in the years to come), betrayal, and other difficult issues that are dealt with honestly and without judgment…
11. It’s all about an arranged marriage between Curt and Jackie…
There’s no romance in this movie! It just so happens that Jackie didn’t have any other options – but there really isn’t a “true love” story here anyway! Even the main characters aren’t perfect (each has their own faults!) – which makes for an interesting story.
12. It’s set in the pre-1978 Church…
While some familiar elements do exist, many of the events and characters in Sanpete Movie take place during a time when the LDS Church was still struggling to find its identity. While it may be hard to believe now, this was a much more “traditional” era where there were fewer changes and less tolerance for all who chose to follow different paths. The movie will appeal to fans of either era!
13. The movie is offensively anti-Mormon…
While the film does present some who’s-who characters as “bad,” it does not in any way reflect the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a movie about Sanpete County, and there is nothing anti-Mormon about it at all.
14. The names don’t make sense!
Sometimes the names are different, boy and girl versions of the same name sometimes appear in different places, and one character even has a French name that’s pronounced completely wrong by locals (although she’s actually French!) – but that’s part of the charm! Sanpete Movie is an adventure film with a bit of magic and humor mixed in!
Summary:
Sanpete Movie isn’t just a fun, funny movie – it’s also a great chance to learn about the history of the area, see why the area was so important to early members of the Church, and (of course) have a great time!
You can add this movie to your collection for $9.99 at Deseret Book or Amazon.com . Or you can watch it for free – simply click here: Sanpete County, Utah
