You've never seen this in a movie before—young children speaking in tongues and rolling on the floor, apparently under the power of the Holy Spirit. And what is more, they're dressed in camouflage, to represent their identity as soldiers in God's army. They're asking God to fill the U.S. Supreme Court with "righteous judges." They're protesting abortion. They're shouting prayers for President Bush while they lay hands on a cardboard cut-out of his likeness. And—don't tell Al Gore—but they're being taught that global warming isn't a problem at all.
Jesus Camp is not a drama or a comedy. It's a documentary, made by award-winning filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, who follow the experiences of three young children—Levi, Tory, and Rachael—as they attend the "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. The camp, directed by Becky Fischer, encourages children to embrace Christianity through programs of intense instruction and charismatic worship.
Some Christian media personalities are speaking out against the movie, but for differing reasons. A few accuse the filmmakers of trying to discredit Fischer and her camp, and they rush to the defense of the film's subjects, saying that their methods of worship and education are to be celebrated. Others are criticizing the film by saying that this documentary footage severely misrepresents Christianity, and that it has been framed to draw viewers into viewing Christians as lunatics.
CT Movies editor Mark Moring expressed that very concern his weekly newsletter, and now Rich Tatum, a Pentecostal who is upset about how his denomination is portrayed in the film, has written a commentary for CT Movies titled, "Brainwashed in the Blood." Also at CT Movies, some readers are beginning to sound off about what they've read and heard.
An uncredited writer at MovieGuide calls it "a sarcastic documentary that paints evangelical, fundamentalist, charismatic, and politically concerned Christians as very shrill, warlike, and dangerous." The same writer questions whether radio personality Mark Papantonio, who plays a prominent role in the film, and his callers are Christians at all. "Mark claims to be a Christian. Let us pray that he be filled with God's Holy Spirit and be delivered from the evil demons that have made him so hateful toward the Christian leaders of America." The article concludes by telling readers how to contact Magnolia Pictures with comments.
Even one of the film's cast members is responding. Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, who makes a brief appearance near the end of the film, wrote a letter to all 42 NAE denominational leaders that read, in part: "I am concerned that we are seeing the initial attempts to characterize Evangelical practices as extreme and, in some cases, similar to the practices and beliefs of Islamic Fundamentalists. No doubt, we all need to learn to communicate the Gospel more clearly in our globalized world, realizing that our words can be interpreted very differently than intended because of the evolving global situation ….
"I didn't like [Jesus Camp] for two reasons. (1) It portrayed the training of kids at the camp as militaristic, extreme, and scary and (2) It forces non-Charismatic evangelicals to say, "That's not us, it's them!" My concern is that the movie will reverse the growing respect that has been growing between Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal Evangelicals for the past three decades, and that those on the far left will use it to reinforce their most negative stereotypes of Christian believers. … It's one more 'documentary' that seems to miss the point intentionally."
Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles is surprised at the uproar. In a statement, Bowles says, "We're frankly surprised and a little disheartened by the efforts of prominent members of the evangelical community to clamp down on Jesus Camp. Whether or not the children and camp depicted in the film represents the 'mainstream' of the Evangelical movement is beside the point: they exist, the film documents them, and the subjects feel they've been treated fairly. Why a community that's so quick to attack discrimination from secular Americans would then turn and do the same to other Evangelicals is unexpected, to say the least."
What do Christian film critics think of the film? So far, very few have published reviews.
Cliff Vaughn (EthicsDaily) doesn't take sides on whether the film is fair or not, but he does recommend the movie. "Jesus Camp could be part of a provocative trilogy of similar documentaries that include The Education of Shelby Knox and Hell House. All peel back a layer of American Christianity and reveal a rawness that is simply worth watching and certainly worth discussing afterward. No matter where you stand politically or theologically, Jesus Camp has something to offer. You're guaranteed not to leave indifferent."
Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin (Cinema in Focus) write, "When a documentary explores a subgroup of a large contingent and implies that this defines the whole, then it is appropriate to call 'foul.' This is the case in Jesus Camp. … The implication is made that Pastor Fischer is a prime example of Evangelical Christians' beliefs and practices. This is not only untrue but it also leads to a pervasive misunderstanding."
Film Forum will link to other Christian press reviews as they are published. Meanwhile, read the CT Movies interview with the filmmakers, conducted by Peter T. Chattaway.
Not many mainstream critics have reviewed it yet, but those who have are giving it good ratings.
Brett McCracken (Relevant) writes, "[T]he argument of Jesus Camp is pretty familiar: Evangelical Christians are radically conservative, gleefully anti-intellectual, flag-waving Dubya lovers who brainwash their WASP spawn in hopes of raising up an army to usher in a theocracy or the apocalypse, whichever comes first."
How do you differentiate faith from fear in a child? If that seems an uncomfortable question then wait until you see the subjects of the 2006 documentary Jesus Camp. The film follows Levi, Rachel, and Tory as they attend Pastor Becky Fischer's "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. These aren't kids destined for archery, swimming, and canoes of the typical summer camp. No, they are in for several hours of scripture and prophesying every day. The experience is one you won't forget soon. The kids are preached to nonstop about very adult topics, and encouraged to break down as they wail and speak in tongues. They are thrown into a "spiritual war" where they must become soldiers and prophets as young as they can speak and walk. This is a look inside a fundamentalist church program affiliated with Charismatic Pentecostals. Whether you're a secular liberal or Evangelical Christian, Jesus Camp will provoke you and make you think about what religion and children mean.
From the first moment we see the kids of Jesus Camp they are in camouflage war paint dancing to a song about Zion with spears. The film immediately asks you to take a side to either support the idea of indoctrination or sit slack jawed as the kids are put through their paces. The documentary is the complete opposite of the Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) or Morgan Spurlock (Fast Food Nation) style, and hearkens back to what the genre is all about. The filmmakers are never seen, nor do they comment or editorialize on the subjects. Jesus Camp lets the people talk and go about their normal lives without any interference. The directors do choose to insert gray footage of America, and some unsettling music now and then, but those are the only two exceptions to their impartiality. To add a Christian counterpoint to the proceedings radio personality Mike Papantonio is shown criticizing the Religious Right for some of its political aspirations.
Jesus Camp is either a horror movie or a comforting lullaby depending on where you stand along the spiritual spectrum. Atheists and Agnostics will find it shocking, while fundamentalist southern Baptists may appreciate the revival atmosphere. It's scary how far they push the children, and hard to see them broken and crying as Pastor Becky tells them they are dirty, evil sinners. And yet a part of me has to admire the fervor and the strength of their faith. Don't worry that the subjects feel exploited by being on display. Pastor Becky Fischer said at screenings she was happy with the way she was portrayed, and thought it was an honest representation of her and the camp. This is a world where Harry Potter is forbidden, and protests on abortion clinics are expected by age five. The only subject to cry foul on the film was Ted Haggard, who asked Evangelical Christians not to see the feature.
The political climate makes Jesus Camp an important documentary for the George W. Bush era. Not that Bush is affiliated with the church, but one of his Evangelical advisors is featured in a cameo (the recently defiled Ted Haggard). The most intriguing scenes of Jesus Camp include the political agenda of the church which is very specific. President Bush is shown as a cardboard cutout, and the children are asked to pray and bless him as a group. He's treated as a savior in the culture war, and his decision on a Supreme Court Justice frames the movie and adds tension. Do religion and politics make great bedfellows, and can the two ever truly be separated?
It's a simple straight forward effective DVD presentation. The transfer is a super clean full screen treatment from a digital source, and looks fine for a documentary. There are some grainy sequences, but I didn't detect much digital noise throughout the feature. A simple stereo mix presents the dialogue clearly. Extras include a wealth of deleted scenes, and a very nice commentary featuring co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. Ted Haggard sermon footage is highlighted on the box and menu of the DVD, but it only lasts a couple of minutes.
Jesus Camp resonates with the world of 2006-2007 because of the rising profile of Evangelical Christians as a voting force at the election polls. The film explores what it's like to be a young fundamentalist Christian at a church and camp designed for you. It's a well done documentary, and one of the best films of 2006 as well as an important one. Whether you walk away provoked or affirmed, it will have an impact on your view of the world. Even though the Religious Right can not be represented by a single faction of its many affiliations, Jesus Camp reveals a very tangible part of America that concerns the culture today. As the rift grows and the divides widen, the culture war for America escalates as quickly as the current Middle East struggles. Caught in the middle are the youth, who are sent to places like Jesus Camp to arm themselves for the coming struggle. The biggest concern is do they do it because they truly want to or are told to by their parents? Is it faith or fear?
1 comment:
i appreciate that the makers of Jesus Camp let the people interviewed do all the talking; over all, there is some useful truth in this flick... as long as it's taken with a grain (or maybe a bucket) of salt
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