Created by Kurt Kuenne, 2008.
I watch a lot of documentaries. Not all of them are well made but I normally learn something anyway. Dear Zachary never feels like one of those “well, it was at least educational” films and even managed to stop my incessant channel surfing one night –it is an amazing portrayal of a very compelling story and possibly the best documentary I’ve seen. The film follows from Andrew Bagby’s murder by his girlfriend, to her pregnancy and the birth of baby Zachary, through the maddening process of two countries’ justice systems, and then to grandparents who move themselves to Newfoundland to be near their grandchild and their son’s murderer. Along with sorrow and outrage for the people whose lives were devastated by Shirley Turner and inadequate justice procedure, I was left with a profound feeling of respect for the Bagbys and their dedication to their grandson and their son’s memory.
I won’t be forgetting this one.
Official site for Dear Zachary (includes information about their fight for bail reform)
