Jesus Town, USA

While some viewers might understandably mistake filmmakers Billie Mintz and Julian T. Pinder's Jesus Town USA for a Christopher Guest-style mockumentary, it's actually the real deal: a documentary with some elements of absurdity but also quiet grace and redemption. The setting is a small town in Oklahoma where an outdoor Passion Play pageant has been staged for the past 88 years, sometimes to audiences numbering as many as 200,000. At the time of filming, crowds have grown smaller, yet the tradition continues. But then there's a crisis: the aging fellow who has portrayed Jesus for seven productions is stepping aside and a new actor must be cast. Enter Zack, an overweight man-child who lives with his girlfriend, has an overnight paper route, is something of a hoarder amidst clutter and filth, and…claims to be a closeted Buddhist. Zack's conflict over assuming the divine lead in the play challenges his sense of validation in the community and potentially puts him on a collision course with his director (a church pastor), castmates, and friends. What ultimately happens might challenge some audience assumptions about tolerance and understanding in America in this delightful, revealing film. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)