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Tell Them You Love Me

Play trailer Poster for Tell Them You Love Me 2023 1h 40m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Tell Them You Love Me explores the extraordinary story of Anna Stubblefield, an esteemed university professor who becomes embroiled in a controversial affair with Derrick Johnson, a non-verbal black man with cerebral palsy. Anna says she unlocked Derrick's mind from his body by teaching him to communicate using a keyboard. But when Derrick's family begin to question his miraculous transformation, and Anna's intentions, it would lead to a criminal trial that would challenge our perceptions of disability and the nature of consent. Through exclusive footage and interviews with those on both sides of the case, this feature documentary weaves a riveting and endlessly nuanced story about communication, race, and sex.
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Tell Them You Love Me

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Leila Latif Guardian Beyond consent, disability and race there is space given to reflect upon the nature of language, the “white saviour” complex, the purpose of justice and what constitutes unconditional love. Rated: 4/5 Jul 3, 2024 Full Review Anita Singh Daily Telegraph (UK) [A] thought-provoking film. Rated: 4/5 Jul 3, 2024 Full Review Daniel Keane London Evening Standard Tell Me You Love Me is a breath of fresh air that feels genuinely balanced and intellectually curious. Rated: 4/5 Jul 3, 2024 Full Review Brian Farvour The Playlist Nothing here could be considered a dull watch, and if it leaves the viewer thinking about how we, as a society, treat one another, it could very well be a lesson learned. Rated: B+ Jul 17, 2024 Full Review Dónal Lynch Sunday Independent (Ireland) It’s a story that challenges the viewer’s own perspectives on disability in ways it’s difficult to anticipate. Jul 3, 2024 Full Review Alan Ng Film Threat Netflix continues to provide a steady stream of fascinating true crime stories that will have you transfixed to your television for an hour. Tell Them You Love Me falls right in that tradition. Rated: 8/10 Jul 1, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Scott M A fascinating story about a man without a voice and his ability, or inability to communicate - it depends who you ask. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/01/24 Full Review Kyrstin B I might be the first person who actually has cerebral palsy to review this documentary. Maybe not, but it definitely affected me more deeply and viscerally than most able-bodied viewers, I think. I would like to see more disabled people's opinions. I believe this story is about transference. While I absolutely think that Derrick deserves the right to a loving relationship just like anyone else, and that Anna may have believed she loved him, she was unfortunately in a position of power over him. I don't see it as very different from those stories of teachers taking advantage of students. Maybe if she hadn't been his ALREADY MARRIED TEACHER, this might have been more acceptable. I was very uncomfortable watching this, because I know that he is trapped in his own body as I am trapped in mine. I was also bothered that they didn't even TRY to get Derrick's perspective, and that his family considers masturbation a deviant behavior seemingly just because a disabled person is doing it. He will probably never have another shot at a romantic relationship, what do they expect him to do? Able-bodied people's tendency to infantilize those of us who struggle with what comes naturally to them is infuriating. This doc left me with a lot of uncomfortable questions. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review Sabrina T This is definitely a must see if you take care of anyone with a disability, or have a friend or family member with a disability. I can see this movie as leaving a people with mixed thoughts. You might be disgusted or happy about this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review Daniel F It's really tough and sad to watch but at same time its very good documentary. The only thing i have to say is that i don't agree on both sides one, if Anna wasn't married and like Derrek in a relationship i thought parents would been ok with that but nope in that nature. Not only Shes married but having affair by sex with him that he is over 30 years old and mother and brother against it. End up in prison for Anna but it won't matter because she out of prison early and got parole. What sad is derrek really like anna because they have a bond together and help derrek to communicate better because of her! Two, I disagree with Derek's mother nor brother about Derrek will never going to be independent because of despite of the disability for her mother has power over Derrek decisions. Lets not forget putting on Derrek medication over masturbation. Do you think that's what's best for derrek by mother and brother to make a good choice for derrek no! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/24 Full Review Barbara F Really well done! Shocking, and riveting. I never heard of this story before, and they really covered the complexities well. I highly recommend this documentary. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/30/24 Full Review Abbie L This movie was an interesting one. We finished it 15 minutes ago and I'm still in shock and disbelief. Just like the other comments, I'm torn. I like to think I'm an open-minded person and look at different viewpoints before making a decision. I completely agree with other reviews. I think Anna was unhappy in her marriage and used Dman as a way to turn him into someone that loved her the way she wanted to be loved. Do I think she loved him? Yes. Do I think he loved her? No. What really got me was when no one else could really validate or confirm the intellect she was referring to. I understand that we want someone to have a voice who doesn't and I think she truly believed in that process. Do I think that Dmans mom was a great mom who did what she could to protect and love her son? Yes. But I do think she may have held him back or potentially could be holding him back from things he could be doing? Also yes. If he truly had the intellect of a preschooler than there is only so much you can do. What I'm still stunned about is when Dman was attending a class and they had the lady who was helping him with a report and he read the book, she didn't, and he told her what or how to write about the book? If that was the case, that was someone other than Anna that can vouch for his understanding of things. I wonder how many studies or tests they actually did on him to determine his level of intellect. I feel like if he could actually type so eloquently, his family would know. Or she would show them or something. I'm just blown away. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/26/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Tell Them You Love Me

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Movie Info

Synopsis Tell Them You Love Me explores the extraordinary story of Anna Stubblefield, an esteemed university professor who becomes embroiled in a controversial affair with Derrick Johnson, a non-verbal black man with cerebral palsy. Anna says she unlocked Derrick's mind from his body by teaching him to communicate using a keyboard. But when Derrick's family begin to question his miraculous transformation, and Anna's intentions, it would lead to a criminal trial that would challenge our perceptions of disability and the nature of consent. Through exclusive footage and interviews with those on both sides of the case, this feature documentary weaves a riveting and endlessly nuanced story about communication, race, and sex.
Director
Nick August-Perna
Producer
Andrea De Brito, Tamara Rosenberg
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Production Co
Mindhouse Productions, Sky Documentaries
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 14, 2024
Runtime
1h 40m
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