“American Jesus” is an enjoyable and fascinating documentary on Christianity in America and for anyone fascinated by different Christian groups and beliefs, I definitely recommend this film!
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DVD TITLE: American Jesus
DATE OF FILM RELEASE: 2013
DURATION: 67 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Documentary, Color, NTSC
COMPANY: Shleter Island/Glass Eye Pix/TDC Entertainment
RATED: NOT RATED
RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2014
Directed by Aram Garriga
Written by Aram Garriga, Xavi Prat
Producer: Aram Garriga, Brent Kunkle
Executive Produer: Larry Fessenden, Carles Torras
Music by Erisian, Zlaya Hadzic
Cinematography by Aram Garriga
AMERICAN JESUS is an exploration of Christianity in every faction of American Life, from the breadline to the yoga studio, from the humble churches of snake handlers to the mega churches in the ex-urbs. Christian cowboys, bikers and musicians, comedians, surfers and cage-fighters, they are all doing it for Christ. Aram Garriga travels from his native Barcelona to the politically divided United States to chronicle the sometimes bizarre relationship between faith, materialism, politics and personal passions in this uniquely American tableaux.
Populated by an array of religious and secular characters offering candid, often illuminating testimonials, AMERICAN JESUS is a vivid mosaic of personalities and conflicting points of view that emerges as a portrait of an America yearning for solace and meaning in the modern world.
When it comes to Christianity, in America, there are many people who call themselves Christian but when you ask about their beliefs or denomination, there will be some sort of conflicting answer.
While all Christians believe in God, there beliefs are different and often in conflict with other Christian perspectives.
Aram Garriga’s “American Jesus” is a documentary that explores the various Christian points of views through interviews with a large varieties of groups, from Pastor Ty Jones of the “Arena of Life Cowboy Church” featuring a group of Christian cowboys; the Christian surfers of Santa Cruz, California; Bikers of Christ in New York, the athletes of Team Impact, actor Jason David Frank (of “The Power Rangers”) who used his fame to promote his Christian MMA clothing line; former stripper Harmony Dust of “Treasures Stripclub Ministry” who reaches out to strippers and women in the sex industry in Las Vegas and gives them the tools to live healthy lives and more.
There are interviews with individuals such as Mara Einstein, author of “Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion in a Commercial Age” who discusses how today’s religions use marketing to promote themselves to the masses. And a segment that showcases celebrities who have become more religious and finds ways to promote their business.
The documentary shows the various extremes of Christian groups and beliefs, criminals who reach out to other criminals and bringing Christianity into their lives but are talked about badly by other Christian groups, to liberal perspectives in Christianity and many other examples.
A fascinating documentary on Christianity in America, “American Jesus” is a fascinating documentary worth watching!
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“American Jesus” is presented in 1:78:1 aspect ratio. Picture quality varies from beautiful digital videography to archived sources from the past, but for the most part, video portions were well-selected, are viewable and clear. While the same can be said about the audio, audio for the most part is clear and understandable on DVD.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“American Jesus” comes with the following special features:
- Making Of – (7:29) A behind-the-scenes making of “American Jesus”.
- Bonus Interviews – Featuring interviews with Christian Musician: Bradley Hathaway, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, Jesus painter Mike Lewis, Christian tattoos by K-Lee, Nashville Cowboy Church: Harry Yates & Joanne Cash, Gospel Graffiti: Cameron Moeburg, Christian Hardcore Music: The Chariot and The Hip Hop Church: Harlem.
When it comes to Christianity, if one tried to understand the various beliefs of Christian groups throughout America, not only one can find it jarring, but sometimes you can wonder, “are these people really Christian?”.
Sometimes its hard to put into perspective of what one may have experienced in life of being a part of a Christian group and how different they are.
Sure, media loves to portray the usual banal ultra-conservative or the snake wielding pastors, but there are many groups out there, who believe in good, who believe in love and those who believe in the power of Jesus Christ, while there are others who use Christianity in other means that may make others feel that they are shady or even trying to extort money over individuals.
But there are also people who want to identify with those who have a similar point of view, those who have a similar perspective in life and those who can relate to others out there.
And with Aram Garriga’s documentary “American Jesus”, we see these various different groups, different personalities and different forms of Christianity.
Some Christians may have positive or negative interpretations towards these groups but the main purpose of this documentary is to show how and why these groups began.
From one pastor who was a cowboy and wanted to reach out and spread the gospel to fellow cowboys, the same can be said of surfers who wanted to reach out to people into extreme sports who may have fallen to bad times but needs the help of positive Christians who enjoy the sports but live a life dedicated to God or a person who had a troubled childhood and adulthood but now wanted to take that energy to refocus into something positive and help out those in the sex industry who want to be closer to God.
Of course, there are many other Christian beliefs that are more towards extremism in a negative type of way. And unfortunately, it’s the ugly side of Christianity which many people probably have seen. Those who talk badly of other christian groups, those who try to take down other Christian groups because they don’t agree with those involved.
But no matter which perspective these people have towards Christianity, they do have the essential belief in God, but different ways of representing the gospel.
While there were riskier directions that Garriga and crew could have pursued, for the purpose of understanding Christianity in America, “American Jesus” is a pretty fascinating documentary that doesn’t try to preach about what religion is the best but to showcase the various degrees of beliefs and how one practices Christianity in their own way and their own style.
The DVD for the most part looks good and sounds good, and you do get a few special features which include interviews and a brief making-of.
But the primary reason for one to watch this documentary is to get a good grasp of the different Christian groups out there and how they are all different and often conflict with each other. I do enjoy the non-polemic direction of the film but to be more information-driven than trying to feel that you are being forced to join a certain group. If anything, to be conscience of Christianity in the United States and more.
“American Jesus” is an enjoyable and fascinating documentary on Christianity in America and for anyone fascinated by different Christian groups and beliefs, I definitely recommend this film!
