Jesus Camp (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Directors:

Heidi Ewing
Rachel Grady

Release Date:

18 April 2007 (France)

Genre:

Documentary | Drama

Tagline:

America is being born again

Plot:

A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham.

Plot Keywords:

Summer Camp | Revivalism | Religious Zealot | Religious Intolerance | Christian Right

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Becky Fischer	...	Herself
Ted Haggard	...	Himself
Mike Papantonio	...	Himself - Commentator

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some discussions of mature subject matter.

Runtime:

84 min | USA:87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:M18 | UK:PG | South Africa:13L | Australia:M | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Company:

A&E IndieFilms

Trivia:

In November 2006, a male prostitute alleged that pastor Ted Haggard (president of the National Association of Evangelicals) had paid him for sex for three years and had also purchased and used crystal methamphetamine. Haggard acknowledged some of the allegations and was removed from all of his leadership positions in religious organizations, including the church he founded.

Quotes:

Becky Fischer: I can go into a playground of kids that don't know anything about Christianity, lead them to the Lord in a matter of, just no time at all, and just moments later they can be seeing visions and hearing the voice of God, because they're so open. They are so usable in Christianity.

Movie Connections:

References Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Soundtrack:

Spirit In the Sky

Jesus Camp is serious business.

This film intrigued me for several reasons: First it is filmed in my home state of Missouri, not the deep south as so many people think, in fact it is filmed near Kansas City.

The film is a well-presented view from the perspective of the ultra conservative, Evangelical movement. It is honest in its intent. Minister, Becky Fischer, is honest in her goals for the camp and its attendees.

I did find that the film seemed to play fast and loose with numbers. For example it is stated that 75% of all home schooled children are evangelical. I come from a liberal background and have many well-educated friends who home school and none of them are evangelical so I am skeptical about their claim.

As one might expect, statements are made such as "there is no such thing as global warming" and that "all homosexuals are going to hell." That doesn't surprise me. The fact that not one of the adults or children questions any of these statements or offers to provide proof or seek an alternative explanation is the elephant in the room.

However; the film is filled with passion and filmmakers present the information honestly. The sad issue is that the evangelical movement seems not to have learned anything from the War in Iraq. Our presence there will only result in civil war. This was predicted long before the war started, now, four years later, if the U.S. were to leave, full blown civil war would certainly result. Why, because the church and state in Iraq are inseparable.

I will eagerly await the sequel five years from now when the filmmakers return to Jesus Camp and reinterview these children. On second thought, perhaps they had ought to wait ten years.