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"I'd Cry Too If I
Had To Go To This Summer
Camp" |
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Directed by Rachel Grady
& Heidi Ewing
Starring Becky Fischer,
Mike Papantonio,
Distributed by Magnolia -
2006 - 87mins - Rated
PG13 |
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I have seen several horror films this year. |
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There was "Hostel." It
was an intensely graphic, frightening exploration of the seemingly
limitless potential of humanity to enjoy the suffering of others.
There was "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." While a rather
pathetic retread, this film too explored took us back to the beginning
of "Leatherface" and how the "Texas Chainsaw" saga began.
There was even the remake of "The Hills Have Eyes." While rather
humdrum in its horror, "The Hills Have Eyes" featured an intensely
gratuitous rape scene that will likely stay with you long after the
film has ended.
There have been many other horror films this year.
I have seen no film as horrifying as "Jesus Camp," the second feature
documentary from the film-making duo of Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing
("The Boys of Baraka"). Given practically limitless access to the camp
in question from Kids in Ministry International Founder Becky Fischer,
Grady and Ewing have created a documentary that frightened me,
disturbed me, enraged me and, perhaps most importantly, made me
determined to vote in the next election.
"Jesus Camp" is a remarkably even keeled look at the Kids On Fire
Summer Camp led by Fischer, a children's pastor, in Devils Lake, North
Dakota. Grady and Ewing don't appear to have an agenda, and it is that
lack of an agenda that provides "Jesus Camp" with its cinematic power.
The film-makers are not attacking evangelical Christianity, Fischer or
the Kids on Fire Summer Camp. This IS the "Kids on Fire Summer Camp."
Fischer and many evangelical Christian leaders have seen "Jesus Camp"
and are happy with the result. This is how they believe, think, feel,
preach, teach, indoctrinate and, ultimately, hope to raise up a
powerful religious right to "save" America.
Truth be told, I fully expected to be sympathetic to "Jesus Camp." I
am, after all, a Christian. I am a minister, and I am currently
attending seminary. While I was aware this film documented what can
only be seen as the extreme right, I expected to resonate with their
spirituality, their desire to raise up children of God and the passion
for Christ...it is a passion I very much possess myself.
It was at about the halfway point during "Jesus Camp" when I suddenly
realized that I had already viewed nearly half of a full-length
documentary about children and God without feeling, even for a single
instant, that feeling I most associate with God...LOVE.
By the end of "Jesus Camp," I was acutely aware that this had not
changed. I watched an entire documentary centered on the lives of
children, and did not once experience love, warmth, sweetness,
innocence or anything the vast majority of us would associate with
children. Instead, I experienced what Fischer openly acknowledged as
her goal with the "Kids On Fire Summer Camp"...the absolute
indoctrination of our children with what is "right." Her
justification? "Islam is doing the same thing," she proclaims, with
nary a clue how completely horrifying that sounds coming from her
mouth.
"Jesus Camp" starts off with a primary focus on the lives of three
particular children.
Levi, a 12-year-old boy who was saved at the age of 5 and already
plans to be a pastor. He openly admits having bad feelings when he's
around the unsaved.
Then, there is Tory. Tory is a 10-year-old fan of Christian heavy
metal music who acknowledges that sometimes her spiritual dancing
turns into being of the flesh.
Finally, and perhaps most sadly, is Rachael. Rachael is a 9-year-old
who feels "the spirit" so intensely within her that she finds herself
randomly envangelizing strangers everywhere she goes.
These children are portrayed in their home lives, their church lives
and, of course, during the camp itself. Again, the wonder of "Jesus
Camp" is that it doesn't portray anyone in a bad light. It simply
portrays them. There are some who will be speaking in tongues while
watching "Jesus Camp," and there will be others calling the IRS
wondering how a children's ministry with non-profit status can openly
endorse political candidates and, in one particularly disturbing
scene, practically turn the current President Bush into an idol of
worship.
There are aspects of "Jesus Camp" that will, most definitely, ring
true for most Christians. The "Kids on Fire Summer Camp" does teach,
does preach, does offer kids the chance to experience ministry and
does, at one point, even go awfully close to a warm fuzzy when one
individual states that the reason evangelical Christianity is booming
in America is because it teaches children that God loves them and that
they are things of beauty. It may very well do that, but we sure don't
see it during "Jesus Camp."
About 2/3 of the way through "Jesus Camp," the children's stories
seems to go on the back burner as Grady and Ewing focus their
attention more exclusively on Fischer. While Fischer is an intriguing
figure, this diversion is disconcerting as it leaves the children's
stories largely unresolved and even the camp itself seems to never
have an "ending." Somehow, everyone ends up in Washington, D.C. from
North Dakota doing a silent pro-life action. How this occurs is never
explained, and "Jesus Camp" never returns to the camp or says goodbye
to the children before turning its focus on Fischer.
"Jesus Camp" couldn't be truly even-keeled without presenting at least
a taste of the more progressive side of Christianity. "Jesus Camp"
repeatedly features Air America radio show host Mike Papantonio, a
Methodist, whose nightly railings of the evangelical right are
presented in sound bytes with the exception of a particularly powerful
and pointed interview with Fischer herself.
As frightening as "Jesus Camp" is, it's impossible to deny that it is
a powerful, well-developed and informative documentary based on a
subject at the forefront of American society today. It is a film that
will disturb and/or delight you dependent almost entirely upon your
personal, religious and political views. The film-makers wisely have
realized they do not need to manipulative the proceedings...they are
what they are and that's powerful enough to make great cinema.
"Jesus Camp" does make great cinema, however, it is not a great
cinematic achievement. Along with the inexplicable decision to divert
from the children's stories to Fischer's story and the film's unclear
ending, "Jesus Camp," at times, has a rather amateurish feel to its
cinematography. While "Jesus Camp" was clearly done on a low budget,
on several times shots were noticeably awkward, dark, grainy or simply
faded in and out of focus. As the film was picked up by Magnolia
Pictures, it seems unfathomable that these basic technical issues
weren't addressed prior to releasing the film.
Regardless of your spiritual background or foundation, "Jesus Camp" is
likely to evoke a response from you...fear, anger, horror, sadness,
glee, praise, joy or uncertainty. Thanks to the sure and steady vision
of directors Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, "Jesus Camp" is an
impossible to ignore look at a political force that has changed
American politics and, if they have their way, the future of America
itself. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
Before I
get going... am I the only one who wanted to
bang the shit out of the blonde in the bowling
alley?
OK. OK. Let's get back to the Jesus thing.
In "Jesus Camp", we are given the scariest
horror film of 2006. It is a terrifying glimpse
into the obscene world of fervent organized
Christianity in the good ol' US of A.
This documentary is about people who spew
nonsense like... (all quotes from this film)
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"Kids are so usable
in Christianity because they are so open."
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"Science doesn't
prove anything."
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"Creationism is the
only way to answer all the questions."
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"George Bush has
given Christianity legitimacy."
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"Global warming
doesn't exist because the average
temperature has only risen 0.6 degrees."
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"Jesus, I command
you... help me bowl a strike!"
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"The Lord is coming
soon."
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"My favorite music
is Christian heavy metal."
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"When I dance, I
have to make sure that it is God because
people will notice when it is for the
flesh." (Tory - 10yrs old)
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"I pledge
allegiance to the Christian flag."
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"Father, we pray
over the electrical systems."
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"Father we speak
over the powerpoint presentations."
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"No microphone
problems, In Jesus' name."
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"Harry Potter is an
enemy of God and in the old testament he
would have been put to DEATH!"
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"Churches that God
likes to go to are where they are shouting
his name and jumping up and down."
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"In the name of a
righteous government, I break this cup."
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"America is
supposed to be God's nation right?"
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"We are being
trained to be warriors... only in a much
funner way."
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"TAKE THESE
PROPHECIES AND MAKE WAR WITH THEM!!!"
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"This means WAR...
are you a part of it or not?"
The fact
is that kids are not just kids because they
don't have fully formed bodies -- They also
don't have fully formed minds. They are easy to
manipulate and are willing to believe virtually
anything. The psychos, like Becky Fischer, who
runs a Jesus Camp, are taking full advantage of
that. They are creating an 'us against everyone'
mentality, that is about as confrontational an
attitude as you can get. It is the antithesis of
what should be the main tenet of any religion --
"be kind and accepting".
Watching some of the kids in this film, chanting
in tongues, performing and preaching on stage
with redneck mullets, and confronting strangers
with the word of the Lord (*snickers*)... I am
struck with absolute pity for their futures.
Will some of them escape to a world less
retarded? Hopefully. However, most of them are
going to be so indoctrinated with intolerance
and ignorance that they will never be able to
break free.
Watching these freaks dance away to a Christian
rap song is one of the most cringe-inducingly
embarrassing moments ever captured on film. It
is very hard to believe.
"Who's in da house? JC!! Who's in da house? JC!!
Jesus Christ in in da house today! When he's in
your life, you wanna dance... We kickin' it for
Christ! DANCE!"
I swear... I didn't just make that up.
In another ghastly scene, a man whips out a box
of dummy fetuses in front of a room full of kids
and asks them to be a part of the legion who
will overthrow abortion in this country. It made
me sick to my stomach to see free will being
taken away from those kids.
I am not going to write too much about the skill
of this documentary film. It is tremendously low
budget and it drags at times. The primary skill
is in the selection of subject. "Jesus Camp"
knows it has incredible footage of this hellish
community and it allows that footage to do all
the work for it. There is no agenda in the
camera... it simply points, shoots and captures.
I appreciate the truth of that technique.
Overall, this film is a must see for everyone.
Those of us who are sane need to see this as a
first hand account of what faces us, in bigger
numbers, in the coming years. Those of you who
are as nutty as the subjects in this film need
to see it in the hopes that you recognize a
sliver of the ridiculousness before it is too
late.
In one ominous sermon during this film, Becky
Fischer says "The Devil goes after the young."
-- Well... at least she gets that right.
PS - I smiled, smug as a bug in a
rug, when I saw Ted "Gay Prostitute Sex &
Drug Abuser" Haggard preaching in this film.
He is the manifestation of all that is wrong
with this group of people.
Jacob Hall's
Comment
n/a
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