While he was off shooting "Haiti Dreams of Democracy", Jonathan Demme's dad's cousin Robert Castle reached out to Demme's father. The two branches of the family had been close at one time, but life had taken them down different paths and they hadn't spoken in decades. After reacquainting himself with Castle, Demme was so impressed that he made this documentary.
Castle was an Episcopalian minister in New Jersey who was radicalized by the social upheavals of the late 60's and forged a friendship with Isaiah Rowley, leader of the local Black Panther Party chapter. His associations and outspoken criticism of the New Jersey Episcopalian Church (he called out the bishop for belonging to segregated social clubs) lead to him being considered unsuitable to lead a church, so he moved his family to rural Vermont. He was called back in the late 80's and had a church in Harlem, where he was when Demme and him were reintroduced.
This is an amiably unstructured and easy-going documentary. It's equal parts family reunion and portrait of Castle, both his history and his current commitment to fighting for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised. Demme is clearly smitten with the man, as he should be. He's charismatic and outspoken and very clearly takes his calling very seriously.
Although very well received when it came out following "The Silence of the Lambs", this film hasn't been commercially available for decades. It needs a re-release.
