July 22, 2010

CHICAGO – The Rev. Elizabeth C. Birkholz's grandfather loved to tell the story about Felix "Bush" Breazeale, a reclusive man from Cave Creek, Tenn., who threw himself a funeral party – while still alive – in 1938, so he could hear what people would say about him. Birkholz's grandfather, Frank "Buddy" Robinson, drove the hearse. More than 10,000 people attended the funeral.

"My grandfather told this story all the time. It was his best and favorite story," Birkholz told the ELCA News Service.

The story is now being told in the Hollywood movie, Get Low, to be released July 30 in Los Angeles and New York. A nationwide release is expected in August. Birkholz's husband, the Rev. Scott J. Seeke, co-wrote the movie. Seeke is pastor of The River Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Ga., an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation.

The movie stars Robert Duvall as Breazeale and Bill Murray as Frank Quinn, funeral home owner. Quinn is Birkholz's great-grandfather. Actor Lucas Black plays Birkholz's grandfather, and Sissy Spacek plays Mattie Darrow, the only person in town close to Breazeale.

"It is so bizarre to see the story that my grandfather enjoyed sharing portrayed in a Hollywood movie," said Birkholz, associate pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta, Ga., a congregation of the ELCA.

Birkholz plans to attend the movie's premiere in Los Angeles along with her husband.

She said attending the movie's Hollywood premiere is not a "normal experience" for Lutheran pastors. "It's been an unusual two years in our lives, attending film festivals and press screenings," said Birkholz.

Birkholz and Seeke attended the movie's showing at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival and the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Seeke attended the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

Seeke said he first heard the story from his wife's grandfather and thought it would be a great idea for a movie. "I contacted an old college buddy, Chris Provenzano, and together we came up with a fictional story based upon this real event. We created the story together, and Chris wrote the screenplay," he said.

Seeke said Get Low is a "wonderful way to open the door to spiritual conversation. It's not a religious movie, but it's a spiritual one. Ever since I had the idea for the story being a movie, I've been wondering how God is going to use this movie to grow the kingdom. It might happen where individuals bring their friends (to see the movie), have conversations and grow in faith. The movie might change the world, change people. And, that would be wonderful."

Birkholz said she has seen the movie four times, most recently with her family. "It was overwhelming to hear our family name" on the big screen, she said. "It was also fun to see their reactions. My uncle, now in his 70s, is the baby in the movie."

Birkholz and Seeke, along with one of their two children and parishioners from Seeke's congregation, were extras in the movie.

"My grandfather passed away in 2006 at 92 years old. He knew the movie was being made," said Birkholz. "The ‘Hollywood boys' came to visit my grandfather in Tennessee. That was fun for him."

A photo of Felix Breazeale at the 1938 funeral is at http://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/citation.php?ImageID=29533, at the Tennessee State Library. Information about the movie is featured on Seeke's blog at http://wadeintheriver.org/scriptandscripture/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service