Jesus Camp

'Camp will never be the same again'

A review of a documentary has been a long time coming. About 1 month actually, except back then it was supposed to be for An Inconvenient Truth which I saw and I will bump here by saying it's a pretty good film and deserves the recognition it got. But, it doesn't touch this film. If Al Gore wanted you to care about environmental concerns and the green house effect, possibly by voting, the documentary Jesus Camp will guarantee as a side effect that you will want to vote. I have never seen a more dividing film than Jesus Camp.

The film explores the power and ideals of radical Christian evangelicals and especially their effect on kids. One kid can be seen sporting the tastefully bad mullet of yore while contemplating on how he was saved at the age of 5. The effect of the manipulation of children by evangelicals is scary beyond comprehension and might make this the best horror film of the year. The kids and the adults all are very candid about their goals and experiences and desires. At one point, the directors have a one on one with the now-disgraced-but-then-high-lobbyist Ted Haggert. In the film, kids can be seen crying, having convulsions, speaking in tongues, protesting abortion in Washington (an interesting feat for 7-9 year olds), proselytizing, and having frank conversations about their theological views, most of which sound like vows from parrots. Never before has the scarring effect of a minority been explored on children. The future of America is not only the focus for the film, it is also the focus of the evangelists who place special emphasis on "teaching" their children their ways of the world. Perhaps the best question raised is what makes someone a suitable parent? When children choose to proselytize at an early age to a female because she was painting her nails, it could be cute. But when that same girl later tries to convert several lounging black men only to hear that they are Christian already and then spewing the rascist thought that they must be Muslim, that is when my blood boils. I could spend this entire review yelling and ranting about radical evangelicals and what I consider to be their ridiculous notions of the world, but instead I will focus now on the craft instead of the inflammatory content of the film.

The directors supposedly tried to capture the evangelicals as they actually are. This is a hard claim to dispute because the evangelical adults in the film, when looking back over the same footage that the audience has just seen and been repulsed by, nods and smiles with approval and discuss how the liberals of America will shake in their boots because they will recognize the faith and love of God in these kids. Or some other skewed remark. Never do they seem to be unhappy with the directors footage of convulsing children or streaming tears in prayer. After all, it's all for the Lord right? The truth is, that the film does have a slant against the evangelicals besides the content of the film. Between scenes of following the evangelicals, the directors have spliced in footage of a "liberal" radio host who is following all of the same action and having conversations with his listeners against the evangelicals. In only one of these scenes does he have a conversation with someone who could be labeled sympathetic to the evangelical cause. Also, the choice of the footage can be seen as meant to divide. Instead of following a bunch of tolerable evangelicals to get a better understanding of them, they chose a bunch that causes revulsion. Despite all of this, I feel that the directors have created a film that not only shows radical rightwing evangelicals in their own light, but it could be enjoyed by other rightwing evangelicals for getting the story straight. Notice though, I think moderate and even some conservative evangelicals will be maddened by this film. But someone like the main characters in the movie, will join right in and nod at the more disturbing moments. So please...watch your neighbor when you see it...it's a great way to get to know those around you.

Conclusion:
If I had any complaints, I would say that the film is so dividing that it could easily cause hate for evangelicals. Although I have never had much love for that group, I do recognize that in a country so divided by war, religion, race, and politics we need now more than ever to be able to cohere into a country, which means tolerating each other. On the upside, the film shows the political power of the evangelicals so well that it has convinced me to register and vote just to cancel out at least 1 vote of an evangelical. Eh, who knows? Maybe we can join together politically to take back the crazy Christian government thanks to the film. All I know, is that more people should see this film and see how they feel. How they feel about right of parents to home school, to raise children based on beliefs instead of accepted facts. How they feel about children who have no childhood and spend their lives trying to save others in their own snubbish manner. Doesn't the mullet boy learn great sermon skills? Isn't he talented? Yes, he does and could make a great orator one day. Maybe even...a politician. I realize that I harp on the evangelicals and their power in government. But, this film will make you question not only those few things, but how we interact with evangelicals and whether or not we can still apathetically tolerate a hostile and powerful section of America. I cannot stress enough to you to see this movie and make up your own mind. Now that it is out on DVD, you have little to no excuse. Me, I got Nader's back.
4.8 out of 5

Wannabe