Review: 'God & Country,' offers a glimpse into the mind of madness

A new documentary in theaters this weekend, "God & Country," gives a hearty and honest attempt at explaining the mindset of Christian Nationalists in America.

Grade: B+

Produced by Rob Reiner, it's no secret that this film and its topics (the January 6th insurrection for one) - like everything else in our time - will only be seen through political lenses. For those on the "right," or Christian Nationalists themselves, or heck even most identifying as "Christian," may view this movie as a slanderous, blasphemous attempt to demonize their very belief system, a spirituality which lies at the heart of their political views. For those on the "left" who view - rightly so - Christian Nationalism as an existential threat to American democracy, "God & Country" will at the very least pull back the curtain and try to offer some logical reasoning as to why things currently are the way that they are.

How can a Jesus-loving Christian support Donald Trump? Support violence? These are the questions for our time, and yet it is impossible for many of us to wrap our heads around. "God & Country" doesn't quite set out to make a convincing argument for Christian Nationalism, however it doesn't set out to mock or make fun of religion either. It treats the subject with respect and with a bit of fear, and deservedly so.

Told in a straight-forward way, it definitely is a film told from what many would call a "leftist" perspective. Most of the "other side" is represented by clips from Christian preachers, taken from their sermons, TV or rally appearances over the past several years.

This is less a movie that is "preaching to the choir" than it is a lesson aimed at a frustrated student body. I found that the more I understood where Christian Nationalists are coming from, it became even more frustrating, not less. Still, if we're ever to salvage what has become of our democracy, I think understanding is key. "God & Country" tries to offer a sense of understanding, and as my favorite TV show used to preach: "Knowing is half the battle."

Genre: Documentary.
Run Time: 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Rated PG-13.

Directed by Dan Partland ("Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump").

"God & Country" is in theaters as of Friday, February 16th, 2024.