Bumpersticker Man
One of the more thought-provoking documentaries, and certainly the most relevant to our agitated national discourse, finally hits the theaters this weekend. Lord Save Us From Your Followers was produced, directed, and MC'd by independent film maker Dan Merchant, and is based on his book by the same name.
Having read the book, and seen the movie at least 6 times (I own an advance DVD), I can highly recommend it as stimulating towards an honest conversation that we need to have in our culture. I'm not the only one who thinks so...it has been recognized at 5 film festivals (winning awards at several), and has received glowing reviews from USA Today, Chicago Sun Times, The Today Show, Relevant Magazine, and many more.
For the the cinema trailer, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJRvUtL2H58
The film opens Sept. 25 in Nashville, Atlanta, Houston, Portland, San Antonio, and Seattle. I'm getting a group together this Sunday (Sept. 27) for the 4:55 PM show at Green Hills Cinema in Nashville. We'll meet in the upper lobby at 4:30. Let me know if you would like to join us, and then have discussion over coffee afterwards.
For more specific info on the film, locations/show times in other cities, press, etc. go to the official website:
http://www.lordsaveusthemovie.com/
Here's an overview:
If you were to meet ten average Americans on the street, nine of them would say they believe in God. So why is the Gospel of Love dividing America?
Dan Merchant put on his bumper-sticker-clad jumpsuit and decided to find the reason. After talking with scores of men and women on streets all across the nation, and also interviewing many well-known activists in today’s “Culture Wars,” Dan realized that the public discussion of faith doesn’t have to be contentious.
From its opening Talking Heads sequence through its touching look at faith in action, Lord Save Us From Your Followers is a fast-paced, highly engaging documentary that explores the collision of faith and culture in America while opening up this important conversation to all of us.
As discussion of religion floods the media, the rhetoric is divisive, hyper, and most often, angry. With humor more common in a comedy-sketch program than a documentary, Merchant brings the sensibilities of someone who is deeply concerned with how his faith is being represented by others. Lord Save Us provides a provocative, funny, and redemptive discussion that is sure to continue long after the credits run.
Merchant sits down for interviews with well-known people on all sides of this great divide, including best-selling author William Paul Young (The Shack), comedian/politician Al Franken, former “Religious Right” Senator Rick Santorum, noted “liberal evangelical” Tony Campolo, conservative radio host Michael Reagan, and racial reconciliation activist Dr. John Perkins.
If that’s not divergent enough, other features include Bono, Rick Warren, Bill Maher, James Dobson, George Clooney, Jerry Falwell, Stephen Colbert, Ann Coulter, Pat Robertson, Lewis Black, Tony Perkins, Monty Python, and even Stewie from “Family Guy”… along with many others
Add to that the nationwide man-on-the-street interviews with “Bumper-Sticker Man,” the Culture Wars game show, the “renaming” of St. Paul to New Leningrad, and a controversial and moving “Confession Booth” at Portland’s Gay Pride celebration, and Lord Save Us From Your Followers delves into religious hot-button issues with candor, humor, and balance.
Engaging, unpredictable, and challenging, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers will change the way you talk about faith!
Here's an interview with Dan Merchant on the Today Show:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24047551#24047551
Remember, let me know if you'd like to join our group for Sunday afternoon's showing. : )