Chatter

Friends,

Many people have opted to respond to this film with longer and more elaborate conversations than they can on Amazon’s review section. A selection of this ‘chatter’ about Leaving My Father’s Faith is linked below. Enjoy!

HERE’S a response by Rick Johnston writing in Medium. Quote:

“The audience … laughed (out loud) and, if I was anything to go by, wiped tears at other points. Those present were like an awkward high school reunion of people who once knew each other in or outside the church. And this film was the right place to bridge the gaps. I was there with friends and family, believers and unbelievers, gay and straight and all the shades in between. From my perspective, as a former student pastor and near-minister, this film is a gift to the world. Both worlds.”

HERE is a podcast episode I did with Films And Faith about the film. The interviewer, Neil Sedgewick, wrote about the film:

“The documentary is wonderfully well balanced and gives both [Bart and Tony] a platform to explain their positions without declaring an outright winner in the debate. Both of the subjects are excellent communicators and it’s clear they have both told these tales numerous times but they still maintain the true emotion of this unforseen change. In one moment we can tell the exit wounds are not fully healed for Tony as he closes his eyes in an almost painful flinch from the tale being told. Despite this pain the relationship and conversation between the two is loving, gracious, heartfelt and sincere.”

HERE’S a full, in-depth review from philosophy and apologetics writer Stephen J. Graham. Quote:

“This engaging personal exchange raises questions of relationship, culture, sociology, philosophy, theology, and humanity. Wright – himself the son of a Presbyterian minister – has created space to allow all these issues to be addressed, but always in the context of this personal interaction that is funny, engaging, and deeply poignant. The audience in my screening laughed heartily and shed a few tears.”

HERE is an episode of Bart’s podcast, Humanize Me, featuring myself, Bart and Tony in conversation about the film, the process of making it, and what it was like to be at the premiere in Pennsylvania. It was good to chat with them!

HERE is a piece by Andrew Spitznas, Secular Cinephile, on Patheos. Quote:

“A film as intimate and warm as Leaving My Father’s Faith inevitably stirs up an affective response and personal recollections. […] I appreciate how Wright’s documentary pulled me in both intellectually and emotionally. There is plenty to ponder, as father and son expound on the meaning of existence and on what it would take for each of them to alter their worldview. […] This was confirmed by the lively, respectful discussion that ensued after I turned off the TV. Liz, my wife, and I talked of our varied peregrinations around belief, doubt, and unbelief. By the end of the day, my daughter had texted her campus ministry leader, suggesting they watch the film as a group. So it’s safe to say I have my answer from her.”

HERE, another recent podcast episode can be found, featuring my friend Jim Beaver on his great Project Action podcast, in discussion with myself about the film, in an informal and energetic way, and is really fun.

HERE is a nice review of the film by a progressive Christian writer in Düsseldorf, Germany. (I needed Google Translate to help me with it.)

HERE is another review of the film in Premier Christianity online.

HERE is an in-depth review that compares Leaving My Father’s Faith to the documentary that came out on Rob Bell, and discusses the lessons from both. (Google Translate is useful here too!)

THIS is one from Tampa, Florida, where the film was recently screened at the Sunscreen Film Festival. The reviewer said it’s highly recommended and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

HERE is a nice little review on a site called Vialogue. Quote:

“The film hints and mentions these queries, though does not dive deep into them. The documentary is not intended to posit any sense of validity or explanation other than to simply recognize honestly the journeys of these two men and their convictions. That, it does well.
And so watching this film only brings the existential dilemma to the screen, adding authority to the mess we all are in.”

And HERE’S an interesting video review of the film on YouTube!

More to come.

John Wright
Director