Jesus Camp

Scary and funny in its depiction of Evangelicals raising up a new generation “to take back America for Christ,” this film by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady is deadpan enough to please the people portrayed (except de-frocked charlatan Ted Haggard), and yet overt enough to frame the action with radio commentary from an appalled Christian with a more liberal viewpoint. That the kids are cute and engaging, as in Spellbound or Mad Hot Ballroom, only makes the fire & brimstone cult behavior all the more alarming. That the jolly, plus-size child pastor is a dedicated educator only makes her nonsense more ominous. Her madrassa is different from one in Pakistan or Palestine only because, “Of course, we’re right.” One more example, if any is needed, of fear being hyped up as a form of social control, of religion exploited as a call to holy war. This film is uncomfortable yet fascinating to watch, on several levels, not least to explain how 30% of the populace is still sufficiently divorced from reality to support Bush and his gang. (2006, dvd, n.) *7-* (MC-62.)