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Jesus Camp

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by Zoë Morgan Chiswick
Co-directors Heidi Ewig and Rachel Grady are the ubiquitous eyes behind an abrasive insight into the lives of Evangelical Christians in the States. Based in Missouri, the children’s pastor Becky Fisher leads the kids of America’s future into an age of faith, with no exceptions.

The scene is set through grey shots of the vast American landscape and imposingly large wooden crosses; interspersed by the blaring voice over of Air America’s talk show host, Mike Papantonio, as he tackles the delicate issue of faith in the United States to the ground. With a dry sense of humour Ewig and Grady hold a magnifying glass up to the Evangelicals on the build-up to ‘Jesus Camp’. Through breathtaking close-ups, the children begin to feel Jesus as we stare into their faces, physically moved by the power of Christ; reciting prayers in a form of Aramaic, tears streaming down their faces, hands outstretched to the heavens.

The children are presented as mini disciples, eyes wide open but blinded by tears. Levi (12 years) ‘got saved’ at five, Rachel (9 years) can’t wait for camp where she will meet people who don’t judge her beliefs and Tory (10 years) enjoys break dancing to Christian metal rock.  Camp consists of preaching, learning about the sins of Harry Potter, and the devil’s influence. The close-ups induce an intense and overbearing feeling of sympathy for the army of children, weeping on the floor, repenting in desperation in pure trust for faith. Behind the scenes, Becky shows off some of her favourite learning props including a sticky hand, to represent temptation, sticking to a jelly brain.
Back at the church a cardboard cut-out of George Bush is introduced as a defender of America, ‘God’s nation’. The kids learn to be pro-life as red ‘LIFE’ tape is stuck over their mouths; Becky reminds the children not to take anti-abortion lightly: ‘don’t be a promise breaker, be a history maker’ and the words echo as a haunting reminder, that this opinion is the only opinion that matters to them.

Finally, Air America interviews the children’s pastor and Mike questions her on the difference between indoctrination as an Evangelical and as a fighter, recalling Rachel’s words, ‘I feel like a warrior’. As they move onto the separation of Church and state, Becky responds saying: ‘equal freedom will destroy us’ and as she declares ‘I love America’, we see a horizon filled with fast food signs and flashing lights. As the film concludes we see Becky in the carwash listening to an Evangelical Preacher on the radio during the cleansing of her car and as the plastic doors to the carwash open, we see the large red STOP signs littered on them.

The facts are presented plainly but the message is clear, as we witness an infant sector bound by the beliefs of an all inclusive, all enveloping faith. Throughout the documentary, Ewig and Grady convey an intimate view of the Evangelical Christian, not entirely unbiased but open-mindedly honest, punctuated with subtle reminders that all men are free, but some are more free than others.
Dirs. Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, US 2006, 87 mins
An ICA Films release.

Jesus Camp is released this Friday, 23rd November at the ICA in London

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