Things We Shouldn't Talk About

A country at war. 

The US is besieged by a culture war campaign that aims to strip away the rights of millions of Americans. They wage war for the dominance and reimagining of this country while fueling a mental health epidemic. 

Based on his multi-award winning short, activist filmmaker Robbie Kruithoff explores the architects fueling this conflict, their growing influence, and the hidden trail of victims left in their wake. The film dispels the traditional villainization of politicians and media figures while revealing the real decision-makers, power brokers, and arbiters of this modern-day crusade. 

As he peels back the onion, Robbie discovers the shadowy, well-funded legal organizations that operate with impunity under the guise of religious liberty and biblical teachings. He follows the dark money as it rides the ideological wave from the coffers of evangelical churches through the Venn diagram of religion, politics, and media before becoming law and impacting every citizen of this country. 

We also hear from those most devasted by this war. Raw stories from communities most impacted by intolerance, like queer children born into conservative religious households that face a mental health and suicide epidemic not seen in our lifetime.  As the gay son from a family of Pentecostal ministers, Robbie is uniquely positioned to understand the impassioned ideology of the evangelical church. And, as a suicide survivor, he connects with other survivors struggling with their mental health journeys. 

While meeting with a religious parent estranged from their child, Robbie asks difficult questions to understand how they could turn their back on their queer child while unearthing the role church, media, and politics played in this decision. Alternatively, we hear the heart-wrenching story of a Christian parent who has lost their queer child to suicide and their efforts to fight this growing epidemic. The film also seeks to understand the perspectives of those vehemently fighting to defend what they perceive as freedom. We follow a young Christian Nationalist who believes they are part of a spiritual crusade fighting for the soul of the country. Robbie delves into the roots of their deep-seated hatred. Robbie will also empathize with a young suicide and conversion therapy survivor who has dedicated his life to ensuring no one else endures the pain that he has. 

Things We Shouldn’t Talk About is a provocative and often controversial examination of the complexities surrounding the bitter division in this country. It touches on issues like fear, racism, and intrinsic American values. Although the real victims’ suffering often goes unnoticed and unaccounted for, we seek to elevate and amplify their stories, the resilience of their communities, and their urgent need for understanding, acceptance, support, and love. The documentary doesn’t offer simple solutions; rather, it poses the question, with so much at stake, how can we not talk about it?