Education of Shelby Knox

UPC: 767685982037

Studio: Docurama

Summary: A simple look at the debates regarding sex education in public schools becomes a dramatic journey of self-discovery for a teenage girl in this documentary from directors Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt. Shelby Knox is a young woman who at first sees eye-to-eye with the strict, traditional Christians in her community regarding sexuality's place in her high school. But as she explores the issue as the subject of this film, Shelby begins to question the longheld beliefs that she was brought up with, leading to a drastic difference of opinion with her parents that threatens the fabric of their family. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Category: Culture & Society

Awards: In Competition – Sundance Film Festival American Excellence in Cinematography Award (Documentary) – Sundance Film Festival

Features: Bonus featurette
Interactive menus
Scene selection

Education of Shelby Knox

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 09/26/2006

Audio: DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 76 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Education of Shelby Knox
1. No Sex Education [7:17]
2. The Knox Family [5:12]
3. Lubbock Youth Commission [10:03]
4. 'Sex Ed' [11:38]
5. Priorities [3:44]
6. Facing the Board [9:41]
7. G.A.P. [11:53]
8. Selling Out [4:05]
9. Champion for the Underdog [9:30]
10. Epilogue/End Credits [2:36]

Derek Armstrong

Documentary filmmakers are naturally drawn to subjects with a flair for the dramatic, but because they're working in an unscripted medium, they can never be sure they'll actually get something good once filming starts. In The Education of Shelby Knox, it's not that the quartet of credited directors came away empty, but let's just say the results probably weren't as inflammatory as they hoped or expected. But the film still manages to be engrossing as a snapshot of the prototypical small American town and its corresponding value system. Sex education in schools can be a tough sell even in liberal communities, so the resistance is tenacious in a conservative haven like Lubbock, Texas. And The Education of Shelby Knox provides many such examples of the clash between the titular youth, a pledged virgin who believes in helping lower her town's alarming teen pregnancy rate, and the many religious-minded opponents to her mission, including her own parents. In one of those moments that speaks volumes, a local Christian crusader, who had previously served as an advisor to Shelby, scolds her that he hears tolerance in her words -- as though it's perfectly normal to construe the word "tolerance" as negative. Like Jesus Camp and other films where the interview subjects don't realize their words will be fodder for liberal derision, The Education of Shelby Knox lets its players walk into their own traps. But as much as it's interesting to watch the town leaders engage -- or fail to engage -- Shelby's arguments, the soul of her struggle may be with her parents, who walk a fine line between mocking her values and providing the parental support necessary for her to succeed. Their spawning of this awakened young liberal is proof that an engaged mind can indeed escape its pre-programming, even in Lubbock, Texas. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Shelby Knox  Actor 
Corey Nichols  Actor 
Ed Ainsworth  Actor 
Rick Baitz  Composer (Music Score) 
Marion Lipschutz  Director 
Marion Lipschutz  Producer 
Rose Rosenblatt  Director 
Rose Rosenblatt  Producer 
Sally Jo Fifer  Executive Producer 
Tiffany Shlain  Director 
Cara Mertes  Executive Producer 
Dennis Lee  Director 

Country: USA