It’s been more than 25 years since Chasing Amy hit theaters, and documentary filmmaker Sav Rodgers is ready to shine new light on Kevin Smith’s (Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob) cult phenom in his new documentary Chasing Chasing Amy. Fitting that this powerful and moving doc arrives during Pride month, having its world premiere at Tribeca Festival June 8th. Rodgers is a trans man and Chasing Chasing Amy, which illuminates his journey of self-discovery while making a documentary about Smith’s film, has a polarizing reputation among LGBTQ+ people. More on that in a moment…

This documentary shines from beginning to end. It’s an outstanding achievement for Rodgers, who shares the producer hat here with Carrie Radigan, Lela Meadow-Conner, and Matthew C. Mills.Rodgers explores the transformational impact of that ‘90s rom-com on his 12-year-old queer kid self. He was growing up in Kansas and coming of age when the film arrived in 1997.
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Smith was on the rise. Chasing Amy star Ben Affleck wasn’t super famous yet. And star Joey Lauren Adams eventually received a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Alyssa, a comic book artist and lesbian who finds herself on the other side of a crush. That would be Affleck’s Holden, who can’t get Alyssa out of his mind. The film also starred Jason Lee. We caught up with Rodgers, who shared more about the documentary with MovieWeb in this exclusive interview.

Understanding the Impact of Chasing Amy

So, what’s all the brouhaha about Chasing Amy? The film certainly struck a chord and sent Smith on his way to becoming a sought-out filmmaker. Let’s start with the plot. The story tracks what happens after comic book artists Holden and Banky (Affleck and Lee) meet fellow artist Alyssa (Adams). Holden falls for her, of course, but his hopes are squashed when he discovers Alyssa is a lesbian. Their bond strengthens however and a more intimate relationship forms.

That’s the biggest bone of contention among the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, one talking head in Rodger’s powerful and revealing documentary is quick to note the obvious: Here’s a film written and directed by a heterosexual man about a lesbian whose life is suddenly transformed — sexuality and all — by a man. Does it effectively capture the truth depths of sexuality, gender, and identity? Chasing Amy was of its time, perhaps.

“I was a very vulnerable 12-year-old [when the film was released],” said Sav Rodgers. “I didn’t know a lot, and I was pretty sheltered, naive, even. I was having a really hard time in school because other people had figured out I was queer before I could. And so, Chasing Amy came along at a very pivotal time, Not only was it a comfort film, but it was also something familiar that I could watch over and over again.

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“It made me think deeper about myself, and the possibilities for what my life could be,” he added. “The character of Holden was somebody I instantly identified with as somebody who feels deeply romantic. He has that longing, that angst. And then Alyssa was this aspirational character because she was so sure of herself. She was out, she was queer. The way she described her sexual orientation very much aligned with how I would describe mine. And there was a potential path ahead for me as a filmmaker. I love telling stories. At the time, I didn’t know movies could be a job.”

Through a series of engaging interviews with Kevin Smith, Joey Lauren Adams, Guinevere Turner, Scott Mosier, Andrew Ahn, Kevin Willmott, Trish Bendix, Princess Weekes, Regina “Riley” Rodgers, and others, Rodgers initially set out to dissect the 1997 cult film. But something surprising happened along the way. The documentary morphed into a story about him.

“Chasing Amy just made my life better,” said Rodgers of the film. “And it continued to be that life raft for a while, presenting a way forward when I didn’t feel there was one. When I got deeper into the documentary, the writing was on the wall that it would be something different than I set out to do.”

A Much More Personal Documentary

Professional Amateur Productions

Sav Rodgers recalls the moments when it hit him. He was examining Chasing Amy and its cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema when he himself found himself at curious crossroads — in life and his relationship.

“I realized I was going to have to be in the film, whether I liked it or not,” said Rodgers. “I was surrounding myself with these really smart, intelligent collaborators who said, ‘Sav, making a documentary about Chasing Amy and the LGBTQ community is great, but putting your story in there would be an emotional anchor for the movie.’ Over time, the voices surrounding me became more persistent, saying, ‘I think this is about you.’ And or me, that was a deeply uncomfortable place to be in, as both a filmmaker and having to decide if I actually wanted to make this version of the movie. But I’m very thankful I listened to the great people around me.”

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Now he’s ready to share the doc with audiences. There’s plenty to relish in Chasing Chasing Amy, in fact. It’s a joy to watch the bright-eyed Rodgers meet his filmmaking hero, Kevin Smith, who comes across as down-to-earth, truthful, and revealing as you might envision him to be. At one point in the documentary, Rodgers admits to Kevin Smith off screen that he hadn’t come out as a trans man. Smith’s response is heartwarming, to say the least. Meanwhile, interviews with Joey Lauren Adams and Guinevere Turner pack the most punch. Powerful all around.

Chasing What Matters

Miramax Films

“I know a lot of LGBTQ people who love Chasing Amy and just as many who dislike it for reasons that are hurtful to them… that it portrays a particular thing that can be used as a weapon, specifically against queer women,” shared Rodgers. “And I respect all of those journeys. For me and where I stand with the film now is… it was really, really important to me, and remains important to me, just not the same way it did when I was 12. Which can be said of a lot of things in our lives.” He continued:

And Kevin Smith’s kindness towards me and giving me access to him, and to be able to ask him questions about Chasing Amy and to pursue this documentary in the way that I wanted to, is something I’ve always dreamed of. I’m excited to share it with audiences. Chasing Chasing Amy, a Professional Amateur, Yeehaw Pictures and Spacestation production, hits the Tribeca Festival June 8th.