Jesus Camp

I approached this film cautiously with the idea that it was probably made to poke fun at the evangelicals. Not to say that wouldn't have been an enjoyable film but it probably wouldn't have been a good one. One of my favorite audience experiences was watching BORAT in a packed theater last year. The laughs came non-stop but too my surprise when Borat went to the evengelical church at the end of the film the entire theater stopped laughing and there was an uncomfortable sad silence. I heard whispers behind me,"Are we suppose to laugh at this?"
My town is Rockford, Il. Rockford just opened its second gigantic 'Heartland Church.' The slogan "A new way to do church" entices a number of people. This is the midwest and despite all the atheism/agnosticism I come across Rockford is in fact located in the midwest and forgive if I am being Naive but not too far from the 'bible belt.' John Mellencamp is VERY popular around here.
Jesus Camp attempts to convey the idea that the Evangelicals make up 25% of the voting population and are have a big impact on elections. The film follows a youth pastor as she prepares for a week long getaway for evangelical children and their parents. She preaches fire and brimstone and gives a lengthy anti-abortion sermon to about 300 weeping, praying and speaking in toungues kids.

....Sort of disturbing.

What made the film so effective was that the filmmakers didn't try to cast a negative shadow on Evangelicals. It simply showed them for how they are and what a week with an Evengelical chuch might be like.