JESUS CAMP - TRIBECA

2006 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

JESUS CAMP

   Made under the auspices of the A&E television network and
co-directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, JESUS CAMP
focuses on pastor Becky Fischer and the summer program she operates
in North Dakota that is geared for Evangelical Christian children
between the ages of five and twelve. The camp is designed to
indoctrinate the youngsters and to create (in Fischer's words) "warriors"
for the future.

   How one reacts to this film will depend on what one believes.
Fischer, a large, bleached blonde woman who spends a lot of time
styling her hair before going before the kids, runs the "Kids on Fire"
camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. There, she instructs the youth
on the fine points of what she believes will make them better people.
These include, homosexuality is vile, evolution is false, abortion
should be outlawed and Republicans -- particularly President George
W. Bush -- have been handpicked by God to His bidding.

   The film also profiles three youngsters who have attended the
camp. The trio includes Levi who believes he has been called to be
a preacher and enjoys delivering sermons, Rachael who approaches
strangers with the aim of proselytizing, and Tory who uses dance to
witness her faith. What some may find a bit shocking is that each of
these children (and by implication, many of those who attend the camp)
are home-schooled. There are sequences showing their stay-at-home
moms instructing the children on such topics as global warming (a
media-created fallacy) and intelligent design.

   The film's title is something of a misnomer. While some of the
action unfolds at a JESUS CAMP, the main thrust of the movie is
the battle for the hearts and minds of Christian youth. Fischer states
it clearly by drawing a dubious parallel to Islamic fundamentalists.
If they can train their children to die for their faith, then why can't
Evangelical Christians?

   As much as I tried to stay open-minded while watching the film,
I did find myself becoming more and more incensed by what it was
espousing. Having been raised as a Catholic, the Christ portrayed by
these ministers simply doesn't jive with what I was taught or with how
I interpret the Bible. JESUS CAMP should be seen, though, as it
demonstrates the extremes to which the Religious Right will go to
push its agenda.

                           Rating:        B -