..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

Jonestown:
The Life & Death
Of The People's Temple
Directed by Stanley Nelson

The first film I saw was Stanley Nelson's Jonestown: The Life & Death Of The People's Temple. As the title suggests, this is a look at the Jim Jones story. And for me, it was the best thing I have seen about the man, his mission, and his mania.

It all starts with making the point that Jones was, essentially, the Bill Clinton of that generation... the white man who spoke to black people with ease, grace, and remarkable effect. Jones' People's Church was, as defined here, a church that was primarily a black church. And more that that, it was a black empowerment movement.

Nelson documents the evolution of Jim Jones from preacher to church leader and how choices were made to move repeatedly to continue to build both the number of members and the political power of the group. In the process, some of Jones' schemes, like getting members to assign all of their assets to the group, don't seem so horrible, more kibbutz than scam. The elderly and the young, for instance, were well taken care of and the costs of living, from food to medical, was adequately taken care of by the group... even if hearing that some got a $5 a week allowance plays as a laugh line.

But don't think that this is some Jim Jones lovefest. Besides his bouts of megalomaniacal insanity, there are his sexual appetites, brainwashing techniques, and relentless paranoia.

About 80 members of the People's Temple survived the mass execution/suicide in Jonestown, Guyana. And about 10 of them tell the bulk of the story here. This group includes three major players in the organization, including on of Jones' adopted sons, who was at the screening for a Q&A along with Mr. Nelson.

What is fascinating about this film, besides the basic story, is how Jones, like Hitler, Castro, and others before him (and since) offered "his people" 80% something wonderful, making their lives better and reaching for something that almost anyone would have to applaud out of context. And then there is that 20%... crazy... dictatorial... murderous... hateful. It is easy to wonder from the outside, "How could they follow that maniac?" This film does a great job of exploring that issue.

The film was made for The American Experience on PBS and the network will likely remain the launching pad for the film. There are some holes in the storytelling, especially after the massacre. But Nelson says there will be a lot of added material on the DVD. I look forward to that. Excellent film.

- David Poland