She Said Yes: A Video Tribute to Cassie Bernall by Her Friends [VHS]

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Bernall of Littleton, Colorado was a typical teen having a typical day when two rampaging classmates put a gun to her head and asked her if she believed in God. She said yes. With that simple word, the young woman's courage in the face of death was catapulted into the consciousness of an entire nation. But with all the talk about her final moments, a far more remarkable story has been left untold. Until now.

In She Said Yes, Cassie's mother breaks her silence to tell the story of a daughter who had, at one point, started down a troubled path similar to that of her killers -- and how as parents, she and her husband risked everything to save her, only to lose her again.

We expect our martyrs to be etched in stained glass, not carrying a backpack and worrying about their weight and their finals. Cassie's is a mystery story, the tale of a girl lost to bad friends and drugs and witchcraft and all the dark places of teenage rebellion.

Much of the world has heard the story of the terrible last seconds in the life of young Cassie Bernall: She was a devout teenager, confronted by the gunmen at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, who asked her if she believed in God. She answered yes--and was shot point-blank. The tale of youthful faith and martyrdom has understandably struck a chord among Christians and non-Christians alike, with followers of many faiths asking themselves what would they do under such horrific circumstances. Cassie's mother, Misty Bernall, has written a bestselling book about her daughter's life, tracing Cassie's path from troubled wild child to follower of Jesus, and this 25-minute video valentine is clearly meant to be a companion piece to the book. It features testimonials from Cassie's friends and fellow church members, a peppy rock soundtrack, and much footage of the radiant teenager whose promising life was cut short. A narration would have helped flesh out this portrait, as would inclusion of Cassie's struggles featured in the book, but anyone familiar with her story will not fail to be moved by this emotional and faith-driven tribute. --Anne Hurley