Testa's Takes: 'Jesus Camp'

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

By Matthew Testa

‘Jesus Camp’

Directed by Heidi Ewing and
Rachel Grady
Rated PG-13 for some discussions of mature subject matter

When Robert Redford declared 2006 to be “The Year of the Documentary” at the last Sundance Film Festival, he wasn’t only referring to the high quality and relevance of recent non-fiction films. He was surely signaling this country’s need to examine itself and the role documentaries have to play in that reckoning.

With a media that is increasingly unwilling to ask tough questions – about the ways we make war, do business, treat the planet and, just as importantly, pray – the job of tough introspection is falling to independent filmmakers.

In “Jesus Camp,” one of the most riveting documentaries of last year, filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady apply their interest in the upbringing and education of children to the religious right, with disturbing results. Not unlike the way that “An Inconvenient Truth” warns of a coming crisis that has gone largely unaddressed, “Jesus Camp” sheds light on a growing problem: the eroding separation of church and state in America.

The film focuses on the formidable Pastor Becky Fischer and the evangelical summer camp she runs called “Kids on Fire.” Located, ironically enough, in the town of Devil’s Lake, N.D., the camp trains pre-teens to be soldiers in the Army of God, young evangelists who, it is hoped, will grow up to be big, adult, voting evangelists some day.

Pastor Fischer makes her objective clear: More than helping the kids find God, she wants God to find His way into government.

The expressed goal of “Kids on Fire” graduates and staff is to undo the separation of church and state in America. Their top target is abortion and their brother-in-arms is President Bush (a life-size cutout of W shares the dais with Pastor Becky).

Filmed during the approval hearings for conservative Justice Samuel Alito Jr., the movie periodically includes radio updates on those hearings, culminating in his appointment. The evangelical war, it seems, is a slow, encroaching avalanche.

Pastor Fischer is unambiguous about her strategy in ministering to children. She readily admits children are impressionable, with minds that can be molded however one sees fit. Which is not to say the kids featured in this movie are thoughtless drones.

In fact, they are bright, charismatic and likeable. Levi, who wants to be a preacher, is confident and articulate. He even questions his worthiness and admits in a group session to impure thoughts. But in an environment of singing, weeping, speaking in tongues and group encouragement, his questioning is drowned out by conformity and zeal.

Most of the children in “Jesus Camp” are quite self-possessed, intelligent and eager to learn. They’ve been home-schooled by evangelical parents, taught that the Theory of Evolution is ridiculous and that their purpose in life is to combat an amoral culture.

If you thought the religious right had a hold on politics before, just wait until this generation comes of age. “Extreme liberals who are looking at this should be shaking in their boots,” Fischer says.

“Jesus Camp” does not set out to critique the Christian right. There is only one dissenting voice in the film, that of Air America radio show host Mike Papantonio.

Interestingly, he is also a religious Christian, but he is critical of the “brainwashing” of children and the falling barriers between church and state in this country. The film ends with a lively debate between Papantonio and Fischer – one that was clearly arranged by the filmmakers but is revealing nonetheless. During this on-air chat, Fischer fully cops to her desire to see religion and politics merge.

Time and recent events have made “Jesus Camp” even more impactful that it was when it was released theatrically (this is also true of another great documentary I screened recently on DVD, “Control Room.” Filmed at the beginning of the Iraq War, its observations of Donald Rumsfeld are chilling to see today).

One scene in “Jesus Camp” features evangelical preacher Ted Haggard proselytizing at his mega-church in Colorado. The moment takes on new meaning in light of his confession of drug use and homosexual encounters.

Similarly, the recent approval by Alito’s Supreme Court of a ban on partial birth abortion can only serve to support Pastor Fischer’s belief that the efforts of her conservative movement are paying off.
PERMALINK:
Testa's Takes: 'Jesus Camp' | Planet JH News Article: Movie Reviews

Leave a Comment