JESUS CAMP
US, 2006, 87 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady.
The documentary which won many awards and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary.
In its time, it was a focus on evangelical Christians and their mission to reclaim America. It was made during the second term of George W Bush as president.
The completed film was shown to the evangelicals who approved its content and style and its being seen. The director spent a lot of time at some evangelical conventions and, especially, at a summer camp for youngsters, primary school age generally, in Missouri. There is also a sequence in a huge evangelical church gathering in Colorado Springs led by its minister, Ted Haggard.
The directors also included interviews with a Christian radio broadcaster, Mike Papantonio, and at his desk and microphone, taking calls, especially in the latter part from Becky Fisher, one of the main leaders in her own church and at the Jesus Camp. However, he is very critical of what he considers the extremes of these evangelists, their indoctrination of the children, the effects of this kind of “brainwashing” on them and their future. It is interesting that the approved the film including the Papantonio sequences and commentary.
Blog comments on the Internet movie database are with consulting. Almost 100% they are in favour of Mike Antonio and his critique, the acting strongly to the indoctrination of the children, many naming it as abuse.
Becky Fisher is enthusiastic, speaks to camera, as a vision of the United States is a country loyal to Jesus Christ. She is very enthusiastic, rising up the children, their responding eagerly to her as well as to some others her assistance, especially one, looking somewhat sinister one might think, engaging with the children, talking about the unborn child, little packets of miniature foetuses, class of the children, rousing them to be Crusaders for pro-life.
The film also focuses on three young children, Levi, Rachel, Tori. Levi, son of a Minister, is extraordinarily confident, his uninhibited in his being photographed, in his being interviewed, in his declarations and enthusiasm. Rachel is the same. Tori, also convinced, is more involved in dancing and music in the evangelical context.
The film shows the intensity of some of the sessions, the enthusiasm aroused by Becky Fisher, her getting them to pray, silence, then charismatic, speaking in tongues, leading to a great deal of emotion and, especially, weeping, some religious frenzy. And, many of the children out there with their parents who encourage them to respond fully to the evangelists.
Depending on one’s point of view, once religious convictions and practice, the response to the film will be enthusiasm for these are most people, their strong beliefs, their spirit of crusading, their slogans of fighting, some of the dance routines which highlight weapons and martial attitudes. But, as indicated by the end IMDb responders, the sequences are frightening, especially where a cardboard cutout of the Pres is introduced, is made out to be the equivalent of a St and crusading leader, and the children regarding him like this.
And, there is some speculation as to what the children will be like in time to come. Googling Levi and Jesus camp, there is an interview with documentary filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock, five years after the events of Jesus Camp.
Viewing the film almost 20 years later, especially in the aftermath of the re-election of Donald Trump, the film is even more frightening. These youngsters of 2006 grew up to be among the cohort of voters for Donald Trump in 2024.
For audiences watching the film in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, and realising how much of the film was prophetic, recommendation would be to watch the films of documentary filmmaker, Don Parker and. He made to documentaries on Donald Trump himself, a critique for the 2020 elections, a critique for the 2024 elections, the first with the word And fit in the title, the second with the word And truth in the title.
But, particularly relevant to Jesus Camp is his second film in this trilogy, 2023, entitled God and country. It is in the vein of Jesus Camp except that it is highly critical of the evangelicals, the reclaiming of America by this kind of Christianity and the endorsement of the MAGA saved by Donald Trump. In God and Country, there are many interviews with these extreme evangelical Christians, and scenes of them praying and proclaiming in the attack on the Capital on generally the sixth 2021.
Jesus camp made an impact in its time, and is still frighteningly relevant.
