Los secretos de Hillsong

I am pretty omnivorous when it comes to film. I like everything from silent movies to new releases. I am fine with foreign language films. But there's one thing that I love most of all - a well crafted documentary. The Secrets of Hillsong is a great example.

It's grounded in facts and interviews. Yet, somehow, the production team managed to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I am not going to reveal any spoilers, but several times, after a major revelation, I'd think, ok, this is obviously the end of this episode- and it never was.

Many of the interviews must have been painful. I applaud those brave souls for finding the inner strength to do them.

If you love great documentaries I suggest that you see this. To me it offers a master class in how to tell a story that is both factual and gripping.

I've followed the Hillsong story for almost 20 years buying my first album in New Zealand and dipping in and out by attending the occasional conference or buying an album, or watching on TV. Have taken my eye off the ball as this is an amazing documentary showing inconceivable developments in the story. It's clear that this massive church's success has come at a huge cost but so many of the issues described plague so many churches. This is a fantastic story and my mind is blown! This story is still developing too. What will August the 17th bring? I won't give my opinion on the people involved (all loved by God) or what happens as this will ruin it, but this documentary is wonderful.

As with nearly every documentary that lifts the lid on these "charismatic" movements there is a dirty underbelly. Since Henry VIII created his own form of christianity to suit his own ends so many humans have followed suit. The subject matter of this movement follows the same pattern - somebody saw the chance to "create" a faith that suits a mindset that will bring rewards. The rewards are power, control, adulation and money. The "leaders" of these "faiths" are definitely never short of material possessions and a comfortable lifestyle and they run it like a business because that's exactly what it is. Sometimes I wish there was such a place as a fiery Hell, an often used tool of fear by them, because that is where so many of them would be going and their fake tears wouldn't quench the flames.

Really digs into the very heart of the problems and rot at the Hillsong church. Was incredible to hear from Carl Lentz and Laura. Felt like we learned a lot of intricate details about what happened and how absolutely screwed up Brian Houston was and the entire Hillsong apparatus.

Excellent production value, footage and audio mixing. I really appreciated the lining up of old footage in a way to emphasize the hypocrisy of the church and the toxic community that was created.

If you enjoy high production documentaries on controversial topics this will hit every note and keep you at the edge of your seat.

There are two things wrong with this production: there's no focus and they failed to ask Carl en Laura Lentz some quite obvious questions.

About the focus: what is the documentary about? That evangelical organizations tend to be very conservative and have a strong bias towards all people that are 1. White and 2. Male? Thats how 90% of the Christian churches work, especially the pentecostal ones. Of course it's very sad when a young girl of color finds out she never will be a pastor because she isn't 1. White and 2. Male. But, no disrespect intended, she should have read the fine print before joining. Instead, the documentary should have been about a narcissistic opportunist (not Carl) and his buddies (enter: Carl) who see religion as a way of making (heaps of) money.

I can imagine how the production meetings went: a bunch of happy, lefty, intellectual people with no clue what churches are, were in the proces of making the show with the bad-narcissist approach. But then someone noticed "Wow, they are against abortion, gay-marriages, equal rights! Our viewers can't relate to that. Let's interview gay/female/colored people and let them speak out what we all think in this room!" -cheers all around- I imagine one person in the back faintly arguing: "But the majority of the (young) people who go there, share these opinions. Shouldn't we at least interview one or two of them?" Of course not, don't be ridiculous!

And then, just before the meeting was closed, there came this huge announcement. Carl and Laura wanted to be on the show! -more cheers, clapping- "The negotiations were successful. Carl and Laura agreed to tell their story! Of course we won't ask them any uncomfortable questions or verify their stories. -some laughter- "We are producers, not journalists" -more laughter- The faint voice in the back said something about telling the other people interviewed in the documentary that they will be participating in a crying-Carl-I'm-so-sorry-but-'they'-are-to-blame show. But alas the meeting was already over.

And there you have it. Interesting footnote is that Carl joined another mega church with accessory celebrities and controversies. Let's see how this turns out.