Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

2008

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Critics Consensus

Dear Zachary is a both a touching tribute to a fallen friend and a heart-wrenching account of justice gone astray, skillfully put to film with no emotion spared.

94%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 51

96%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,120

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Movie Info

Shortly after his best friend, Dr. Andrew Bagby, was slain by jealous ex-girlfriend Dr. Shirley Turner, filmmaker Kurt Kuenne was shocked to learn that Turner was pregnant with Bagby's unborn child. Hoping to create a film that would serve as both a memorial to Bagby and an introduction to the father the boy would never know, Kuenne quickly began production on a film celebrating the life of his late friend. Traveling across the entire continental United States, Kuenne made it his personal mission to interview everyone who had ever known his best friend so their memories would be captured on camera before they faded. Meanwhile, upon learning that Turner had fled to Newfoundland, Bagby's devastated parents uprooted their entire lives and relocated to the easternmost providence of Canada in order to fight for the future of their newborn grandson, Zachary. During the production, however, the Canadian government freed Turner on bail as she awaited extradition to the United States. Unfortunately, during that crucial time, the situation took a turn for the worse -- a turn that could have been prevented had the Canadian justice system heeded all the warning signs. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Cast

David Bagby
Kathleen Bagby
Heather Arnold
Kurt Kuenne
Dr. Andrew Bagby
Zachary Andrew Turner
Shirley Turner
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Critic Reviews for Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

All Critics (51) | Top Critics (10)

View All Critic Reviews (51)

Audience Reviews for Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

  • Sep 11, 2018
    As a love letter to a friend, father, son and victim of someone's psychopathy and lunacy (as well as a testimony to the resilience of two incredibly stoic grandparents amid a horrible tragedy), this is a beautiful, touching and absolutely devastating documentary like few others.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 30, 2014
    This is a story about how low humanity can go. The case portrayed is monstrous and the way the Canadian justice handled it is baffling. Still, as a documentary, Dear Zachary is as over the top as it can get, boarding on tabloid sensationalism to cause a strong impact. That fast editing is annoying, though I get it's use to get you through the roller coaster of emotions the director was put through but it was unnecessary. The story itself is gruesome enough. An actual longer running time could've helped this immensely, since there was more to Shirley Turner than we got. All in all a good testimony with the wrong approach.
    Francisco G Super Reviewer
  • Jul 10, 2014
    This documentary broke my heart into a million pieces. Such a touching tribute to a beautiful man and son who tragically lost their lives to such a horrendous woman.
    Beth M Super Reviewer
  • May 02, 2014
    After watching this heart-wrenching documentary, I lost faith in the judicial system, child protective services, law enforcement and humanity in general. This documentary tears at you, and sends you down a dark and twisted rabbit hole. I felt saddened, angry, disgusted and just appalled at how the whole case turned out, and the extreme sadness that the actions of one person can do to a family. I hope that everyone can take something out of this movie.
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
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