God Loves Uganda
God Loves Uganda | |
---|---|
Directed by | Roger Ross Williams |
Produced by |
Roger Ross Williams Julie Goldman |
Starring |
Lou Engle Jonathan Hall Rev. Kapya Kaoma Rev. Robert Kayanja Rev. Jo Anna Watson Jesse & Rachelle Digges Bishop Christopher Senyonjo Rev. Martin Ssempa Scott Lively |
Music by | Mark degli Antoni |
Cinematography | Derek Wiesehahn |
Edited by |
Richard Hankin (supervising editor) Benjamin Gray |
Distributed by | Variance Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
God Loves Uganda is a documentary film produced and directed by Roger Ross Williams, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.[1][2] It explores connections between evangelicalism in North America and in Uganda, suggesting that the North American influence is the reason behind the controversial Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, which at one point raised the possibility of the death penalty for gays and lesbians. The filmmakers follow a group of young missionaries from the International House of Prayer in their first missionary effort in another nation, as well as interviewing several evangelical leaders from the US and Uganda.
Williams was inspired to make God Loves Uganda when he met David Kato, an LBGT activist who was killed in 2011, ostensibly in a robbery. Kato told there was an untold story of the damage American fundamentalist evangelicals are doing in Uganda; of the insidious nature of their aggressive effort to harvest young, unclaimed souls to preach a gospel of love intertwined with a gospel of intolerance.[3]
Reception
In late May 2014, the film aired on several PBS stations in the United States as part of the Independent Lens series. In response, the International House of Prayer said that it is "not involved" in politics, despite the long history of political involvement by Engle, IHOP director Mike Bickle and other IHOP leaders.[4]
Critical reception
Joe Mirabella at the Huffington Post described it as the "most terrifying film of the year"; Tim Wu at Slate and Bill Blezek at the Omaha World-Herald described the film as "disturbing."[5][6][7] On the other hand, John G. Stackhouse, Jr. of Christianity Today criticized the film for perceived "evangelophobia" and trading in "propaganda", likening the film to the 2006 film Jesus Camp.[8]
Awards
God Loves Uganda has won the following awards:
- Full Frame Inspiration Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
- Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Dallas International Film Festival
- Best Feature Length Documentary at the Ashland Independent Film Festival
- Audience Award Documentary at the Mountain Film Festival
- Best Overall Documentary at the DocuWest Film Festival
- Sheffield Youth Jury Award at the Sheffield Doc/Fest
- Grand Jury Pink Peach Feature at the Atlanta Film Festival
- Jury Award for Documentary Feature at the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
See also
References
- ↑ Zaimov, Stoyan (January 25, 2013). "'God Loves Uganda' Film Exposes 'Violent' Evangelical Movement Targeting Gays?". The Christian Post. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ↑ Greenberg, James (January 25, 2013). "God Loves Uganda: Sundance Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ↑ Moloshco, Carolyn (March 2014). "'God Loves Uganda' Reveals American Evangelicals Spreading Gay Intolerance. Academy Award winning director tackles abuse of religious power". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ↑ Peter Montgomery (21 May 2014). "In Response To Uganda Documentary, IHOP Says It's 'Not Involved' in Politics". Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way.
- ↑ Mirabella, Joe (January 23, 2013). "Joe Mirabella: God Loves Uganda, the Most Terrifying Film of the Year, Premieres at Sundance". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ↑ Blizek, Bill (January 19, 2013). "The movies start playing". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ↑ Wu, Tim (January 21, 2013). "God Loves Uganda shows how American Christians export homophobia.". Slate. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ↑ John G. Stackhouse, Jr. (May 15, 2013). ""God Loves Uganda" - In a documentary along the lines of 'Jesus Camp,' who's demonizing whom?". Christianity Today.
External links
- Official website
- God Loves Uganda at the Internet Movie Database
- God Loves Uganda at Rotten Tomatoes
- Jono Hall's review of the film. Jono is one of the subjects of the film.
- NPR Interview with Roger Ross Williams and Jono Hall
- IHOPKC's Response to the Film