Review of Jesus Camp (2006) by Eric A — 24 Dec 2010

"Jesus Camp" is an utterly fascinating and disturbing look at one Pentecostal ministry's efforts to inculcate children with the beliefs and structure of evangelical Christian life as early as possible (always with the consent and urging of their equally pious parents). Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady - most recently makers of the excellent HBO doc "12th and Delaware" - are gifted at drilling to the heart of highly emotional topics, touching a lot of raw nerves and soliciting almost-too-candid interviews.

But children, by nature, are guileless. And though the orchestrations of adults drive the film, the focus is the kids, two of them in particular. Levi is a smart, preternaturally mature 12-year-old shepherded into the role of the littlest pastor, which seems to be as much of a calculated professional move as a calling (a megachurch pastor advises him to work his "cute kid thing" as long as possible). Then there is Rachael, a gregarious, enthusiastic girl in the way that 9-year-olds are, except that she proselytizes to strangers in bowling alleys. Though they seem happy enough, you wonder what else these kids might be capable of if there was more than one option set in front of them.

Ewing and Grady toss in a "liberal evangelical" talk radio host in an attempt to balance the film's perspective on religion, but this just flattens any of the middle ground. It basically shows two sides of the same hysteria. However, I don't think that's what "Jesus Camp" is ultimately concerned with - the message seems to be that kids are sponges that grow up, work, vote, and have children of their own, and we had better take very seriously what we choose to impress upon them. Handle with care.