Documentary discusses church's approach to health
By DEBRA HAIGHT - H-P Correspondent
Published: Monday, April 12, 2010 1:08 PM EDT
BERRIEN SPRINGS - It wasn't exactly a Hollywood premiere with stars walking down a red carpet, but the Southwest Michigan premiere of "The Adventists" drew rave reviews from those watching Saturday night at Andrews University.
Nearly 2,000 people crowded into Pioneer Memorial Church on campus to watch the one-hour film about the Seventh-day Adventist Church's role in promoting a holistic approach to health.
People's applause was long and spontaneous as the film credits rolled at the end. During the showing, occasional laughter as well as murmurs of "wow" and other exclamations could be periodically heard.
"The Adventists" is the latest film by Martin Doblmeier, founder of Journey Films and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His other films include "Bonhoeffer," which was a theatrical release, and "The Power of Forgiveness."
Doblmeier readily admits that "The Adventists" is not a comprehensive look at what he describes as the "American-born religion" founded by Ellen White, but instead a look at "the intersection of faith and health care."
He said he became interested in making a film about the Seventh-day Adventist role in the development of modern health care after touring the Adventist Loma Linda health facilities in California.
"I was presenting a screening of 'Bonhoeffer' at Loma Linda and while I was out there, I was given a tour of the medical facility," he said in an interview Saturday.
"That crystallized the idea of investigating the idea of the intersection of faith and health care. There was also data coming out showing that Seventh-day Adventists were living five to 10 years longer on average than other Americans."
The film highlights the Loma Linda hospital and Adventist hospitals in Florida and Ohio. It delves into the roots of the Adventist approach by telling the stories of Ellen White and John Harvey Kellogg.
White, founder of the Seventh-day Adventists, was a follower of William Miller, who believed that Christ would return in 1844. She later said she had visions about the relationship between physical and spiritual health and the need for a simpler lifestyle where people didn't smoke, drink or eat meat.
Kellogg was an early convert and founded the Battle Creek Sanitarium where people, including many celebrities, flocked in the late 1800s and early 1900s to learn healthy habits.
Like many of Doblmeier's other productions, this film has been shown on Public Broadcasting Service stations nationwide. It has not been scheduled for WNIT, the PBS station reaching much of Southwest Michigan.
He said people should check the http://www.journey/ films.com Web site to learn when and where the film will be aired.
Doblemeier spent Friday and Saturday at Andrews, showing "The Adventists" and "The Power of Forgiveness." He also spoke at four workshops and at the Saturday morning Sabbath service at Pioneer Memorial.
"The response has been terrific" for "The Adventists," he said. "The timing is also so good with health care being an important conversation going on in the country right now."
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Source: http://heraldpalladium.com/articles/2010/04/12/local_news/1342931.txt
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Note: Bolds, Highlights and Italics added.
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By DEBRA HAIGHT - H-P Correspondent
Published: Monday, April 12, 2010 1:08 PM EDT
BERRIEN SPRINGS - It wasn't exactly a Hollywood premiere with stars walking down a red carpet, but the Southwest Michigan premiere of "The Adventists" drew rave reviews from those watching Saturday night at Andrews University.
Nearly 2,000 people crowded into Pioneer Memorial Church on campus to watch the one-hour film about the Seventh-day Adventist Church's role in promoting a holistic approach to health.
People's applause was long and spontaneous as the film credits rolled at the end. During the showing, occasional laughter as well as murmurs of "wow" and other exclamations could be periodically heard.
"The Adventists" is the latest film by Martin Doblmeier, founder of Journey Films and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His other films include "Bonhoeffer," which was a theatrical release, and "The Power of Forgiveness."
Doblmeier readily admits that "The Adventists" is not a comprehensive look at what he describes as the "American-born religion" founded by Ellen White, but instead a look at "the intersection of faith and health care."
He said he became interested in making a film about the Seventh-day Adventist role in the development of modern health care after touring the Adventist Loma Linda health facilities in California.
"I was presenting a screening of 'Bonhoeffer' at Loma Linda and while I was out there, I was given a tour of the medical facility," he said in an interview Saturday.
"That crystallized the idea of investigating the idea of the intersection of faith and health care. There was also data coming out showing that Seventh-day Adventists were living five to 10 years longer on average than other Americans."
The film highlights the Loma Linda hospital and Adventist hospitals in Florida and Ohio. It delves into the roots of the Adventist approach by telling the stories of Ellen White and John Harvey Kellogg.
White, founder of the Seventh-day Adventists, was a follower of William Miller, who believed that Christ would return in 1844. She later said she had visions about the relationship between physical and spiritual health and the need for a simpler lifestyle where people didn't smoke, drink or eat meat.
Kellogg was an early convert and founded the Battle Creek Sanitarium where people, including many celebrities, flocked in the late 1800s and early 1900s to learn healthy habits.
Like many of Doblmeier's other productions, this film has been shown on Public Broadcasting Service stations nationwide. It has not been scheduled for WNIT, the PBS station reaching much of Southwest Michigan.
He said people should check the http://www.journey/ films.com Web site to learn when and where the film will be aired.
Doblemeier spent Friday and Saturday at Andrews, showing "The Adventists" and "The Power of Forgiveness." He also spoke at four workshops and at the Saturday morning Sabbath service at Pioneer Memorial.
"The response has been terrific" for "The Adventists," he said. "The timing is also so good with health care being an important conversation going on in the country right now."
.
.
Source: http://heraldpalladium.com/articles/2010/04/12/local_news/1342931.txt
.
Note: Bolds, Highlights and Italics added.
.
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