Religulous

(USA, 2008, 101 mins)

35mm

Selected Filmography:  

EXEC PROD: Charlie Siskel
PROD: Bill Maher, Palmer West, Jonah Smith
SCR: Bill Maher
CAM: Anthony Hardwick
EDS: Jeffrey M. Werner, Jeff Groth, Christian Kinnard
Cast: Bill Maher

You could not ask for a more curious duo than comedian Bill Maher and director Larry Charles (co-creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm and the director of Borat) to take on the issue of organized religion. It's a well trampled area as of late, with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins (familiar to VIFF audiences from the documentary The Root of All Evil) all arguing, with varying degrees of cogency, for the abolishment of faith. But whereas each of these writers took organized religion quite seriously, Religulous uses the full scope of humour to address everything from Jesus' views on homosexuality (apparently he had none) to Maher's own parents' decision to leave the church (over the issue of birth control, no less). Despite the frequently hilarious interludes, and there are many very funny bits here, this film is deadly serious about the toll that religion has taken on human history. To Maher and Charles' infinite credit, the film is not a simple hatchet job. Maher has the courage to let his subjects speak their minds, and the graciousness to listen. Some of the exchanges, such as one that takes place between Maher and a group of Christian truckers, may well surprise you. A debate concerning the finer points of theology this is not, but Religulous poses lucid, meaningful and important questions about people's need for faith, however deeply irrational. The film's final coda may divide audiences, but it is bound to incite a spirited and thoughtful debate, which is probably exactly what the filmmakers intended. That, and a few laughs at the expense of the Scientologists.

Sponsored By:

Georgia Straight

---

---

For ticketing information please phone 1-604-685-8297 or email boxoffice@viff.org