Movie troubles Davis parents By CHERYL ARCHIBALD Standard-Examiner staff FARMINGTON — Some Da¬vis County parents have com¬plained that a Red Cross AIDS film breaks a state law prohibit¬ing instruction about contracep¬tives, but a deputy Davis County Attorney says it doesn't. The film, "A Letter From Bri¬an,'' was shown in November to students in health classes at Layton High School. Nihla Judd of Kaysville and Families Alert, a citizen group that opposes sex education in the schools, filed a complaint Thurs¬day with the Davis County Attor¬ney's Office to keep the film from being shown in county schools. Judd said the film violates a state law that says "public funds can be used to provide contracep¬tive services to an unmarried mi¬nor only with parental consent." The law defines contraceptive services as "any material which provides instruction on the use of birth control devices and substances," said Assistant Utah At¬torney General Ralph Finlayson. Brian Namba, a deputy Davis County Attorney, said Friday he felt the film did not violate state law. "It is true it does mention con¬doms, but there was no informa¬tion concerning condoms related to contraception," he said. "There are disclaimers throughout the film that support abstinence as a prevention for AIDS. The general thrust of the film supports abstinence," Nam¬ba said. Namba reviewed the film after discussing the matter with Davis School District officials. He said he examined rulings on adultery, fornication and contraception in¬struction before issuing his opin¬ion on the film. 'A Letter From Brian" is an American Red Cross film being distributed by the Bonneville Red Cross chapter in Ogden to churches, schools and other groups upon request. In the film, high school students discover that a friend, Brian, has developed AIDS as a result of past use of intravenous drugs. The film sets a scenario in which students contemplate sex and ask questions regarding the spread of AIDS and the best methods of prevention. Their questions about the use of condoms for protection and how AIDS is spread are answered in narratives in the film. At the end, the two key players decide not to have sexual relations. Leo Cornish, Bonneville Red Cross chapter volunteer in AIDS education, said the film has been recommended by U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett as one of six best sources of AIDS information for youth. "Mr. Bennett is not known for his advocacy of immorality,” Cornish said. Weber School District officials decided against using the film be¬cause of the state statute prohibiting instruction about contraceptives. Layton High School students saw the film in health classes the last week of November after it was reviewed by health teacher Carolyn Warner, student body officers and school administrators.