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SALT LAKE CITY — The popular LDS film "Charly" is set to be re-released this summer, and ksl.com got a sneak peek at the additional footage.
The film, celebrating its tenth anniversary this September, is back in theaters this summer with "three or four" additional scenes and an expanded storyline. The new details include a deeper look at the main character's "conversion experience," something that was only hinted at in the 2002 release.
"The feedback we got when the film first came out was that the experience wasn't complete for the audience," producer Lance Williams said. "They wanted to be there when it happened for Charly. Now they are."
In the film, the main character, Charly, is introduced after moving to Salt Lake City to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She eventually decides to be baptized into the church, but the film dedicates little time to her emotional process.
Viewers experience Charly's conversion to the LDS church in at least one new scene, which was filmed in the Hope Gallery in downtown Salt Lake City.
Viewers see Charly enter an art gallery, a place she is familiar with as a burgeoning artist, and stroll through halls of paintings. But it is when she enters a Christian exhibit that she stops short and looks around, and we see the vague beginnings of a smile on her face.
Believe me, they haven't seen this 'Charly.'
–Lance Williams
Presumably, she enters the room to look at the paintings of Christ, and therein her conversion experience is explored.
Williams said the character's conversion to the LDS Church is not all that is to be explored in the new release, though; it is only a fraction of the work that has been put into the encore version. Viewers will see additional scenes and a digitally remastered version of the film that Williams said is "much different" from the 2002 version.
"This isn't just a dust off of the original to throw back into theatres; many people will probably miss going thinking they've already seen it," he said. "Believe me, they haven't seen this ‘Charly.'"
"Charly" is back in theaters Aug. 10. A significant portion of revenue from the encore version of the film will benefit programs at West Ridge Academy in West Jordan.
