Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Stanley Nelson

Writers:

Marcia Smith (story)
Marcia Smith (teleplay)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Plot:

Featuring never-before-seen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the Peoples Temple, headed by preacher Jim Jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch. |

Plot Keywords:

Guyana | Preacher | Mass Suicide | Jim Jones | Suicide

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Rebecca Moore	...	Herself
Janet Shular	...	Herself
Tim Carter	...	Himself
Stanley Clayton	...	Himself
Hue Fortson Jr.	...	Himself
Garrett Lambrev	...	Himself
Claire Janaro	...	Herself
Neva Sly Hargrave	...	Herself
Deborah Layton	...	Herself
Phyllis Wilmore Zimmerman	...	Herself
Chuck Wilmore	...	Himself
John R. Hall	...	Himself
Tim Reiterman	...	Himself
June Cordell	...	Herself
Eugene Cordell	...	Himself

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Firelight Media Inc.

Soundtrack:

Something Got a Hold on Me

A good history of Jim Jones's Peoples Temple

I saw this in San Francisco, where the Peoples Temple was located in the 70s. Former Peoples Temple members and the director and writer of the movie were present (and there was discussion after the screening). It was certainly a powerful place and way to see it, but I think the movie stands on its own. It does a good job of showing what attracted people to the Peoples Temple and how, gradually, things started to go very wrong. There is footage from the days of the Peoples Temple as well as new and moving testimony (that feels like the right word) from former members and family of members.

It's not clear if it will get distributed theatrically but, if not, the director said it will air on PBS in 2007. Highly recommended.