Director: Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing
Genre: Documentary
Distrubutor: Madman

"If the evangelicals vote, they determine the election." - Ted Haggard

It's hard to comprehend the culture of something if it isn't bred into you from the beginning. It's almost impossible to describe the emotions that pull at your viewer heart when you struggle to understand how choice isn't an option for some.

It'd be easy to pull the pin on this review right now, as the above two sentences say enough. However, after viewing the ethnographic documentary that is Jesus Camp, the need to highlight the importance of choice has never been more prevalent. Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's Jesus Camp revolves around young children as they get ready to attend a summer camp, somewhat appropriately named 'Kids On Fire'. At the family retreat, they are subjected to lengthy sessions of Christian worship - evangelical style.

Some reviews class the film as an insight into brainwashing. However, it's more than that - it provides insight into how children are culturally bred into belief by people that were once in a similar position to them. It really is a generation thing and, surprise, it's never going to change.

A damaging point of the film is the 'pro-life' segment that sees children taping their mouths with red tape that has 'Life' inscribed in capital letters. It's ultimate exploitation and it provides a narrative that gives you a glimpse of what people in powerful positions are capable of. This method of cultivating a new generation of Christianity is only reinforced by the way the kids are made to feel as if they've been doing the wrong their whole lives.

The documentary somewhat loses sway by using manipulative devices to engage the viewer, most notable when a preacher uses the word 'sin' and footage of a young child is  used to - maybe it was Freudian - capture the essence of the sermon. In other aspects, the composition of a radio platform to dissuade people from the teachings of evangelism stretches to points that Michael Moore would be proud of. Then again, it's a very North American thing to coerce people into feeling certain emotions in film.

It also comprises the usual facts and stats that accompany this sort of film - pivotal to the understanding – but they could have been an addendum of sorts, as they detract from the flow of the montage-like qualities of the structure.

Jesus Camp is a must-see - not because it's brilliant (the direction is a let down), but because it reinforces the importance of giving people the opportunity to find their own feet in this world.

Rating: 3 stars