Paradise Recovered is a new indie film about the damaging effects of religious abuse. The film traces the story of Esther, a devout young woman living with a fundamentalist pastor's family. Something terrifying happens to Esther and instead of being protected, Esther finds herself kicked out of her home and church–wandering alone in a small Indiana town.
The film-writer, Andie Redwine, contacted me and asked if I wanted to pre-screen their film. She had read my blog and recognized many similarities in my experience. I was, of course, thrilled to watch her film.
But I was also heartbroken. What I experienced inside my abusive fundamentalist church has often felt very isolating. There are not many Christians–let alone non-Christians–who can relate to my experience. Watching Andie's film brought me to tears because it showed me that I'm not alone.
During the course of the film, my husband looked over at me and chuckled: "And to think we thought our church was so special and unique."
It was stunning to watch the film because there were so many similar pet doctrines and sub-culture lifestyle choices. Andie, a cult survivor herself, did very thorough research and her film is a testament to that.
This is a film that, although fictional, captures the essence of what life is like inside abusive fundamentalism. It demonstrates the destructive power of mind-control, guilt, fear of damnation and group think.
Best of all, part of the profits of Andie's film are being donated to provide mental health services for survivors of religious abuse. This film is both entertaining and helps those who have been hurt.
So, please watch the trailer below and then check out Paradise Recovered for more information.
You can also follow Paradise Recovered on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Let's spread the word together!
