Jesus Camp (2006)

A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham.

Directors:

Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

Stars:

Mike Papantonio, Lou Engle, Becky Fischer

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lou Engle	...	Himself
Becky Fischer	...	Herself
Ted Haggard	...	Himself
Mike Papantonio	...	Himself - Commentator

Storyline

Jesus Camp follows several young children as they prepare to attend a summer camp where the kids will get their daily dose of evangelical Christianity. Becky Fischer works at the camp, which is named Kids on Fire. Through interviews with Fischer, the children, and others, Jesus Camp illustrates the unswerving belief of the faithful. A housewife and homeschooling mother tells her son that creationism has all the answers. Footage from inside the camp shows young children weeping and wailing as they promise to stop their sinning. Child after child is driven to tears. Juxtapose these scenes with clips from a more moderate Christian radio host (who is appalled by such tactics), and Jesus Camp seems to pose a clear question: are these children being brainwashed?

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Plot Keywords:

evangelical | christian | child | radio | summer camp | 

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Taglines:

America is being born again

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some discussions of mature subject matter

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

Campamento Jesús

Filming Locations:

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$17,659 (USA) (15 September 2006)

Gross:

$901,531 (USA) (9 February 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E IndieFilms, Loki Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 58 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since the making of the film, Becky Fischer, children's pastor for Kids on Fire, announced that due to negative reactions to the camp after the film, including telephone calls and vandalism, the camp, which was held once a year for three weeks, has been discontinued indefinitely and will be replaced by other events.

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Goofs

Becky Fisher swings a stuffed Lion and says "You've got a Tiger by the tail".

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Quotes

Rachel: There are certain churches, they're called "dead churches," and the people there, they sit there, like this
[blank stare monotone]
Rachel:

• "We worship you God, we worship you God."... The churches that God likes to go to, are churches where they're jumping up and down, shouting his name, and just praising him, they're not acting - they're not quiet

[pious frown monotone]
Rachel: "We worship you... ," they're
[exuberant jumping]
Rachel: "Hallelujah God!" And depending on how they invite him, he'll be there, or not.

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Connections

Referenced in God Bless America (2011)

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Soundtracks

Who's in the House?
Music and lyrics by Carman
EMI/Sparrow Records
Co-Publishers Warner Chappell Music/Lehsern Songs

User Reviews

Should be categorized "Documentary/Horror"

This is really a horror movie. It's comparable to The Ring and Emily Rose.

I thought we were living in the 21st century. This movie reminds me more of the 16th.

On one hand, this movie is an unforgettable experience, like a dive into darkness. On the other hand, you're left asking yourself - "am I a sadist? I'm watching little kids getting tortured, brainwashed, their lives getting deformed". When you watch this movie, the first thing you want to do is go to IMDb and write a review about it.

So,

If you're in a happy mood right now, don't watch this movie.

If you want chills down your spine, by all means, watch it!

10/10