Customer Reviews

Audience Of One

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AUDIENCE OF ONE follows pastor Richard Gasowsky as he and his congregation struggle to make their first film, after he has a vision sent from God. He sells his house and he and his family move back in with his mother, as he raises the funds and convinces his church to make the science fiction version of the story of Joseph. He takes the crew all the way to Italy and back, as well as through the San Francisco legal system, as they try to learn how to make a film, and wait for funding from a mysterious German source. Despite the absurdity of the story-line, director Michael Jacobs gives us a rather unbiased, uncritical view of these aspiring filmmakers, allowing the characters and the people to take over without any mocking. In the end he produces a highly entertaining documentary that tells us of faith and filmmaking. I am still wondering what it was like to be a filmmaker filming other fimmakers that have no idea what they are doing. Was it frustrating? Did the documentary crew help? Perhaps I'll have to check out the DVD special features and see if I find my answer.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but am dumbfounded at how gullible people are. Again it has been demonstrated that all one has to do it associate religion with something and many people will believe it unquestionably. There appears to be no critical thinking about anything the minister and his family say or propose, no matter how absurd it is. Most of those involved in the making of the minister's movie substitute prayer, formula religious gestures and behavior for talent and reality. When they can't pay their bills they blame Satan, rather than admit they are in over their heads. Views of the church and it's parishoners give the impression that they are poorly educated and not very successful in life. The actors he chooses don't have an ounce of talent and seem to be people with problems. In the midst of their financial problems the minister has eight more ideas from God that are even more absurd and the parishioners seem to be inspired by them. I would certainly watch the movie again and recommend it to others.

On the surface, this documentary is about a preacher and his San Francisco congregation working together to do what they believe God has called them to do -- produce a Bible-based sci-fi / fantasy film. On a deeper level, it's an opportunity to observe how a rational faith can morph into a delusional one, and how confidence in one's own vision is abandoned when one's faith is given over to the vision of another.

I was completely blown away by this documentary. Though the film is a careful examination of one man's "God-given" vision to bring God's Word to the masses through creating a movie, I believe it was actually a brilliant examination of delusional thinking, especially as it relates to religion. Assemblies of God pastor, Richard Gasowsky, first convinces his small congregation to dig deep into their pockets to fund this project, which Gasowsky estimates will cost $200 million dollars. It is testimony to his faith (or delusion) that he believes movie will transform the world. Strangely, it seems the greater the odds against him and his small band of followers, the more he becomes convinced that his God can conquer anything, even banks, creditors, and the city of San Francisco.

This documentary is a "must see" for pastors and congregations. It shows the power of faith and delusional thinking. And the conclusion will knock you off your feet!