Let the Church Say, Amen

Wow. This film blew me away. I'm not saying I'm an expert, BUT (haha) I've earned my M.F.A. in film production from UCLA and I'm from the D.C. area - this is the film I would love to make. The view of native Washingtonians is authentic. These people may be challenged from a socioeconomic point of view, but they are rich in their spiritual resources. This is an excellent film for anyone interested in references and information related to substance abuse treatment, community service and/or raw documentary film-making. This film is so inspirational! And the filmmaker is in the community - looking around and out vs. being on the outside looking in. Gospel music in this film is amazing as well. I don't think reviews are about summations, so I won't tell you what it is about - but you definitely must see this movie.

I saw this in June 2003 at SILVERDOCS, the AFI documentary film festival held annually in Silver Spring, MD, just outside of DC. The film was, I believe, funded by PBS, and the director, David Petersen, was given permission to show it here prior to broadcast, since it was of local interest - the church is just a few miles from AFI.

While introducing the film, the director said that making it changed his life, and he hoped that watching it would change ours. In my case it did. I've been a movie maniac all of my life, but few films have affected me as this one has.

I hope that when PBS airs the film it will give it plenty of publicity, and its viewed by many. But those of us who attended SILVERDOCS had an added bonus. Church members were present to discuss the film afterward. And they are a memorable group.

This was an excellent documentary about a church in Washington DC. The parishoners are all African American and they are poor, but this is a fine testimony of the difference Christ has made in their lives. It was a powerful film and I am happy to have had the opportunity to see it.