The brutal murder of Matthew Shepard divided America, broke hearts and changed the way that people view hate-crimes. Laramie, Wyoming was an unassuming town until it hit the front pages of newspapers across the country when a 21-year old student was found tied to a fence, beaten and left to die by two men…because they knew he was gay. After the attack, a theatre troupe headed to Laramie to work on a play based on the real-life reactions of the townspeople and those involved. The film is a re-enactment of the theatre group's activities and is composed of actual statements taken from the people they met and also includes actual news footage from the time. Directed by the man who also directed the play, The Laramie Project handles the story with poise, grace and generosity even to those who are less deserving of it.