Many viewers found lake's story inspiring

Having read John Hanson's column (“Lake's story about more than dam,” Saturday) about our film, “We will be back, the Lake Delhi story,” I offer the following:

We chose to tell a specific story about a way of life loved by many and at risk of being lost. Ours was a story about love, family and determination. Something that several hundred viewers found inspiring and up lifting.

Filmmakers have a right to their opinions and to tell the story that expresses their passion about a subject. Critics have the right to disagree. The public can make their own decision about the value of the story. Anyone who has not seen our film is welcome to see it when we screen it again in Manchester at 3 p.m. June 15 at. or buy a copy online at our website and decide for themselves. I suggest that Mr. Hanson is not qualified or entitled to decide for all of us what the “real story” is any more than I am. I encourage him to continue to express the views he feels so passionately about and that he may even want to raise the thousands of dollars it takes, commit a few years of his life, pick up a camera, hire a crew and make his own movie. I will be the first one to buy a ticket to see it. I will respect him for that more than I respect his attempts to trash our film, which has meant so much to so many.

Charles Cunliffe

Producer, writer, director

Dubuque