Valentine Road

In the shocking and haunting documentary "Valentine Road," director Marta Cunningham delves into the 2008 murder of openly gay non-conforming teenager Larry King by his classmate Brandon McInerney, sparking a complex investigation that reveals a web of nuance and complications beyond the initial homophobic portrayal in mainstream media. Over five years, Cunningham embedded herself in Oxnard, California, accumulating over 350 hours of footage, weaving a powerful cinematic memorial to King's life and death. With archival news footage, school surveillance video, and courtroom renderings, the film paints a heartbreaking portrait of a brave, cross-dressing boy whose misplaced crush may have led to his tragic murder, raising important questions about tolerance and acceptance.