ironhorse_iv
Thank God! That somebody finally shine some light into how dark & disturbing, some of these faith-based reform centers can be. It's extreme evangelicalism at its very worst. Directed by a then- young evangelical filmmaker, Kate Logan; the 2014's documentary film set in 2006, takes an inside look at one of these institution; where kids are removed from their homes & forced to live in isolation in a foreign country, with little to no connect with concerned friends & relatives, doing hard labor, while also being subjected to a range of abuses, both physical and emotional. It's a very insightful enlightening documentary. However, there were somethings that could had made the film, a little better to watch. One of them, is having equal amount of experiences storytelling. I felt that, one of the subjects, David Wernsman's story, really did overshadow, the other two, Tai Mathieu, and Angie Blattner. Don't get me wrong, Wernsman's struggles in the rehab center was indeed, one of the most captivating parts of the documentary; but, if you're going to focus on the message about all the different types of negative experiences, an controversial Christian behavior modification program like 'Escuela Caribe' in the Dominican Republic has on people. Maybe, you shouldn't be, focusing most of your time on one person. That was one of the flaws of the documentary. Because of that, the film's core arguments & message does sound a little too repetitive & vague at times. This sucks, because the film could had gone into the really harsh nitty gritty allegations, made by other people against the center; such as death threats, sexually assault, & most of all, the unsafe working conditions that led to one death. It really could had gone deep, but instead, the film only cover the surface level of abuse. Sadly, this is not enough, to gain attention in the public & politic circles. A film like this, needs more victims like Julia Scheeres & Deirdre Sugiuchi to speak out about centers like this, to truly, make a different. Not only that, but more valid talking heads to endorse these claims. Because of the lack of that, these allegations will remain merely assertion, until they can finally be proved true. Sadly, it might takes another 'Jonestown' for any big reform to happen to these institutions. Another thing that could had, made this movie, even better, was giving more time on explaining how facilities like 'Escuela Caribe', were able to get, rich Evangelists parents to fly their children to outside countries like Dominican Republic, in hope that faith and discipline would cure & purge their sons and daughters of "ungodly" influences. After all, it was pretty jarring to hear stories of complete strangers being able to take children, oversea, by themselves, with only the parent's blessing. It really seen, like there was more to that story that the film wasn't telling us. It would had been nice to see, one of the parents being interview for this documentary to tell, their side of the story to see if they were aware of the center's questionable practices and motives. Sadly, we didn't get that. Instead, 2014's 'Kidnapped for Christ' made the parents of the subjects seem like unseen villains. Despite that, I did like how director, Kate Logan injected herself into her own film, as she played a vital part in helping one student try to escape. Seeing her, challenge her own faith, and developed a character arch from naïve religionist filmmaker into an activist for human rights was one of the highlight of the film. The film is so much more powerful with her, being there. However, it came with a cost, as the movie came across as somewhat biased; which happens to be, somewhat true. While, the documentary tries to be fair to a certain extent; allowing the faculty staff ample amount of time to tell their side of the story, through interviews. It's clear by the end, that the sheer weights of inhumane allegations against them, was too much, for Logan is play nice. After all, none of the living subjects, feature in the film, really deserve this type of punishment. Many of them, have never been in a juvenile delinquency center or commit a major crime. In the case of the three main subjects; their cases ranges from panic attacks, homosexual and physical childhood trauma. It's a clear conclusion that the folks in 'Escuela Caribe' had no clue, how to handle them. Even if, Logan was still trying to make a heartwarming film, it was nearly impossible for the faculty to be shown in a good light. The way, they ran that place was far worse than any modern day military boot camp. No wonder, why people found this documentary, upsetting. The things, they do in god's name is truly disgusting. The sheer fact that they drive most people away from religion is telling you, that they didn't do a good job. In the end, they close down and reopen under a different name 'Crosswinds'. Hopefully, they will shut down for good, one day. Overall: I have to say, educated yourself by watching this documentary! Learn how to be a good parent by trying to understand, what they're going through. Be aware, of their feelings. That's my advice. Don't ever sent your children, away to therapy institutions like this! Places like 'Escuela Caribe' can go to hell!
pluslife
GITMO for Kids - Monster's using God & Abusing the Bible for Economic Gain!Excellent Documentary! Way more than fair with this Monstrous Cult that are using God and Abusing the Bible for Economic Gain and to allow Megalomaniac Power Freaks to meet their selfish need to Exert Control and Abuse Other's which their target is teens and kids. Typical for such bullies and cults, they always target people they have physical and psychological power over.The techniques are 101 mind control and brainwashing, used by regimes of past and cults of past. The ends do not justify the means, there are legitimate techniques available. These places leave the USA for good reasons, they know they are abusing children and holding adults hostage. These so called employees and the director(s) and all who are invested in these places need to be put in prison and sued for every dime they have and will ever make. They are criminals who are abusing US kids and holding US adults hostage, with no judicial process by the US Legal System. Glorified GITMO for kids who may have behavior problems or just wrong sexual orientation for backward parents. These kids, teens and adults being held and abused are not criminals or domestic terrorist, they have Human Rights! Here is a legitimate use of Military power to rescue our citizens and to take the criminal operators in custody for judicial action or they can be treated as combatants as far as I am concerned.Please go to the site (http://www.kidnappedforchrist.com/#!action/c18rg) and TAKE ACTION NOW! My god, if you are a Christian or not this is all wrong and not anything but abuse for profit. How can a place in a 3rd world nation cost 72K which is 10K more than Harvard and there is no amenities's and the kids just do all the labor plus make work to further exert power by sociopaths running a cult. The staff has no training and are not qualified to babysit much less discipline, educate, raise, doctor or meet the mental health issues some kids come with and certainly all kids leave with.Every Church needs to show this documentary to all parents and kids, so they know what not to ever do and to make sure kids know that such places or people who use such techniques are not okay. This is all wrong. Those who went through the program and support it are those who have been brainwashed and the mind control succeeded on. It is the fault of the people who are adults that run these places and those who promote them, with parents who are accountable as well for failure to attend to your child's needs and ship them off to a 3rd world country and put in the hands of monsters running a cult. The capacity of such places to operate outside the US, taking US Kids and messing their minds, emotions and very innocence up need to be stopped and shut down and the people held accountable by US Laws and standards. We owe the kids of the US protection from abuse and misguided parents who are being hoodwinked or who are not competent to parent and so the kids need a proper option over such draconian places where it is nothing but a place where bullies can act out their fantasies and promoters have ridiculous profit margins and the US will eventually end up with the long-term care for many of these kids who come back mentally scarred and will eventually show the signs of such abuse in differing ways. The old saying the abused often becomes the abuser is very true and noted for good reason.This is a Jim Jones for kids and young adults. Just look at how they acted when they were confronted with people wanting the release of just one adult. They have even changed their name which that right there shows they are running a seedy operation knowingly since that is a common technique used by criminal enterprises in the US. What will they do when or if they are confronted with government intervention? I say watch out for the bitter KoolAid Kids. Not trying to be funny or cute, this is a real threat with people like this and their control is threatened. They can not handle anyone questioning them and those who do are seen as the devil and there is a real threat they may take the kids out and then themselves. They promote and even demand B/W thinking by students and the staff see's life in such terms which is very dangerous mindsets for anyone to have, much less those who hold control over kids and are forming youths minds. These people who run these places are not mentally healthy and are a real threat to those under their control and those who try and remove their ability to control will be seen as threats.These places need to be shut down, we must stop allowing people to take kids by force out of the US, we need to hold these place and the people fully responsible and parents need to be warned and even hold them accountable the same as if they left a child un-cared for properly in the US. This must stop and we owe kids protection from such places!
The Gryphon
I guess I'm a purist. Being 56 years old and a lifelong cinephile, with a penchant for documentaries, I bemoan the fact that many documentarians of late have lost their ability to be unbiased observers. Nothing was more disturbing in this movie than the scene in which David hands director Kate Logan a note to be passed to his friends outside the Dominican Republic. Once a documentary becomes biased it loses all moral ground. In 1992, in the comedy/drama movie called "Man Bites Dog" about a film crew following a "heartless killer" as he commits his crimes, the film crew eventually begins to knowingly aid and abet the killer. This was a parody of a documentary and laughable. "Kidnapped for Christ" is not a parody and scares the hell out of me. Despite the subject matter of the film, the documentarian should strive to be "documenting" the matter, not participating in it in any way, shape or form. She should try to be as unbiased as possible instead of trying to shape public opinion. Kate Logan insults the viewer by telling us we're stupid by editing the film in a way that we don't have to think for ourselves. She is showing us her point of view and calling it a documentary. There is, of course, a bit at the end where two of the principals in the film come down for and against the Christian school. More of this would have made the movie better. But in other scenes, you can tell how one-sided the production is, such as the scene in which the youths are taken on an outing to Pico and play in the muddy grass there. Logan focuses on Tai, a young lady who doesn't like the mud and doesn't want to play in it. It is a scene where the central focus is Tai complaining about the outing and how much she hates it there. Strangely enough, Tai seems to be the only one complaining and sometimes she can't be heard due to the laughter and squeals of delight coming from the 99% of the kids who are enjoying the day. Why not interview someone who is part of that merriment for balance? Some of the "evidence" against the school is merely anecdotal at best, such as when director Logan overhears loud yelling outside her room on the campus and states that it came from one of the people in control who was yelling at his charge. We have to take her word for it as nothing is shown as evidence. When she points the camera out the window all seems calm with the two people involved. A wiser documentarian would have left this part out of the movie as it's clearly hearsay and can't be proved. I'm not saying that abuses did not happen at the school, even the people in charge agree that some have occurred. What I am saying is that the director of this film slanted it in such a way that it's impossible to determine what really happened at the school. It seems that Kate Logan was graciously granted permission to film on-site, which usually indicates that the people in charge had little to hide. She may have realized, once there, that a film without conflict won't sell in the United States. She seems to have tried to manufacture discontent with the available footage she possessed. For despite the ominous overtones of the film, we see no abuse happening, only hearsay. Kids have to make their beds and fold their clothes properly. Kids have to exercise when told to. Kids are told to obey authority. There is talk of "swats." This is somehow considered child abuse. We don't see any such "beatings" so we have to take the word of Logan, who has already showed us that this is a film she has slanted to force her views on the viewer. Did we think she would honestly show us more cinematic fairness after she tips her hand that she's one sided in the note exchanging scene with David? This is an evil movie. It does not appear to be about evil, but it is evil in the way it is edited and slanted, apparently for the sake of being a daring filmmaker exposing the truth...as she sees it. It is a vanity project that insults the viewer. The real title should be "Kate Bites Dog."
