As It Is In Heaven
Jul 18 - Jul 24, 2014
(Joshua Overbay, United States, 2013, DCP, 87 min)
Producer Nathaniel Glass in attendance!
This film drama from the American South (a region under-represented in the landscape of independent cinema) was inspired by the life of Harold Camping, the zealot (infamous or beloved, depending on who you ask) who ruled a many-million dollar fundamentalist Christian radio empire (140 stations on 4 continents) until his death in late 2013.
Devoted to a simple life of faith in unforgiving Kentucky backcountry, a small religious sect seeks spiritual awakening, as their Prophet (John Lina) nears death and his son, Eamon (Luke Beavers), prepares to step forward as their new leader. But, in his last moments, the Prophet instead names newcomer David (Chris Nelson) as his spiritual successor. An aching, haunting score matches the taut script, working expertly in tandem to build tension, as David prophesies the end of the world and his followers await their final days.
"purified, stripped bare, and ornament-free. . .identifying the apocalyptic simmer that runs beneath current American culture. . .admirably searching" —Seattle Weekly
"A film whose very quietness seems to speak volumes" —The Seattle Times
"cooks a surprising amount of tension from the barest minimum of ingredients. . .Examining the rewards and consequences of faith with empathy and without judgment" —The New York Times