| Abstract |
Hedir Antonio de Brito, a paraplegic from the age of fifteen, wanted simply to marry Elzimar Serafim, who was the love of his life. He had sent out wedding invitations and applied for a marriage certificate from the Roman Catholic Church. But forty days before the wedding, Hedir got an unexpected letter from the Catholic Church of Patrocinio, Brazil. His marriage application was denied on the grounds that as a paraplegic he could not copulate. This decision was based on the Vatican's Canon Law 1084. The filmmaker talked to the couple, their families, the local priests as well as people in their small Brazilian town. Many were afraid to speak their minds in the shadow of the Catholic Church, but they eventually expressed their outrage at a situation that put love and faith on opposite sides. The couple made public their conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, and there was a swell of public support. This film documents Hedir's struggle to get married and the impact his story had on his small town and Brazil. Forbidden Wedding is an exploration of disability rights, sexuality, and faith. |
