Dear Rita

Synopsis—

One child inspires her community to explore the issue of gun violence in America – Part 1 of 3 in the Guns, Grief, and Grace in America series.

Dear Rita is a one-hour ethnographic account of one family’s loss, which embodies the spirit of so many others in the United States. On a Saturday in March of 2000, Rita Martinez prepared her Grandma’s favorite lunch – a grilled cheese  sandwich. Rita kissed her Grandma and went into the bedroom to watch cartoons.  Moments later, a bullet broke the front window, tore through the bedroom wall and lodged in her head, killing the eleven-year-old. Rita’s mother vowed to fight for sensible gun laws, a promise that put her on the bus to the Million Mom March. For the remainder of the year, Rita’s family, teachers and classmates opened their lives and hearts to us, in hopes that others will see and hear how the horrific details of gun violence impact families, friends and society. Rita’s short, beautiful life and the sense of loss and grief shared by those who knew and miss her inspires audiences of all ages to change this picture. In a time when many of us are numbed to accounts of “another shooting,” the intimate, honest and emotional testimony compels viewers to acknowledge our collective grief, as citizens of a country where 10 children die from gun violence every day.

Credits—

Director: Janet Fitch
Co-Director: Brad Pruitt
Producers: Janet Fitch, Brad Pruitt
Editor: Tess Gallun
Screenwriters: Janet Fitch, Tess Gallun & Brad Pruitt
Videography: Tess Gallun, Brooke Maroldi
Executive Director: Janet Fitch

Trailer—

The trailer for Dear Rita.

Resources—

The Guns, Grief, and Grace in America films are useful and important tools to aid understanding and promote critical thinking and discussion around the complex impact of gun violence on today’s youth and adults alike.  The following 35-minute classroom version and selected discussion clips are useful to spark and guide dialog as students and community members express their personal responses, thoughts and ideas about the issues and stories presented in the media.

Classroom edit—

This 35-minute edit of Dear Rita is useful for an hour-long classroom discussion of GUN VIOLENCE. 

Activism—

This 12-minute clip from Dear Rita helps facilitate discussion surrounding ACTIVISM and GUN VIOLENCE. 

Justice—

This 3-minute clip from Dear Rita helps facilitate discussion surrounding JUSTICE and GUN VIOLENCE.