Last night the Topeka Public Library had a screening of an independent film titled “Fall from Grace”. It was made as a class assignment, by a young film student at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
It has as it’s subject the life and career of Fred Phelps. Made on a shoestring by this young guy, it took almost a year to make, when the director thought it would take a month at most.
It’s the best work on Phred I’ve ever seen. It presents a look at the Westboro Baptist Church that is unprecedented. K. Ryan Jones, the young director, was allowed into the family homes/compound, attended one of their services, filmed many picketings, and interviewed many family members, Fred himself, and the little kids even. Ryan also interviewed the widow of a young soldier, the motorcycle guys who helped drown out the WBC, our mayor, police chief, pastors, a Biblical scholar, and a well known local lawyer, Pedro Irigonegaray, who has been active in opposition to the WBC.
Ryan seemed to have no bias, he filmed things and let them speak for themselves. It is hard to convey in words how amazing this film was. And Ryan himself answered questions afterward. He’s a very poised and articulate young man, only 21, and you heard it here first, he is going places!
Next week there’s supposed to be an announcement by some important film festival(he wasn’t allowed to tell us which one yet), that “Fall from Grace” will have a screening there. Everyone wanted to buy a copy but it’s not on the market, that will have to be worked out with the festival. Ryan himself still seems a bit surprised at the interest he has generated.
Take my word for it, if this documentary comes your way, go to see it. I’ve rarely been so entranced by this kind of work. I could go on and on.
If you are wondering how the large audience reacted, well, we were mostly quiet, with a few chuckles now and then when the WBC folks said something stupid. But once, when the Phelps clan started screaming about the soldier who had died, the guys on the Harley’s revved them up to an ear splitting level. At that point the audience broke into cheers and applause.
Interestingly enough, the WBC likes this documentary. You get what you want from it, and they see themselves getting attention. The rest of us see Fred getting freaky, or little kids telling Ryan about how awful “fags” are, and are appalled.
Go see it if you ever can.
And BTW, Ryan got an A for his project.