Filmmakers’ Appearance: Sunday, November 5, 2:00 & 4:30
In Person: Stanley Nelson & Jim Jones Jr.
Jonestown, referring to the mass murder/suicide that took place in Guyana in 1978,
is remembered by many Americans with a combination of horror and fascination.
In this gripping documentary, filmmaker Stanley Nelson combines
historical footage with interviews with the survivors in an attempt to answer
the questions this tragedy left us with. On the surface, the multi-racial Peoples
Temple in San Francisco originally espoused the values of a model society, and
its charismatic leader Jim Jones offered his followers the perfect
balance of spiritual fulfillment and political commitment. But something was amiss.
This enlightening film demonstrates the continued relevance of an event that happened
nearly three decades ago. As director Nelson says: “For me, the story of Jonestown
is about the thin lines between faith and zealotry, loyalty and coercion, charismatic
leadership and demagoguery. It is a familiar story as people in times of uncertainty
lose themselves to someone who they believe will offer stability and security.”
Writers: Noland Walker, Marcia Smith. Producer/Director: Stanley Nelson.
(US 2006)
Opens Friday, November 3