Filmmaker Sara Feinbloom returns to the subjects of the 2002 film What do you believe? to better understand how the religious beliefs of the six individuals highlighted in the original film have changed over the past 17 years now that these teenagers are in their 30s. These now adults represent diverse faiths and religious practices and include individuals that are: Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, Native American (Lakota), Jewish, and Pagan.
A central concern for anyone thinking about viewing or adding this title to their collection is whether they need to see the original film to provide context for where these individuals are now in terms of their religious beliefs. The film is well-edited, cutting between footage from the previous film to provide context for the viewer before each person discusses how their beliefs have changed over the past 17 years.
What develops is a complex picture of religion in American life. With each story, it becomes clear how personal an individual’s faith is and the number of potential influences on how they practice it. In each of the six subjects, the transformation of their faith is directly impacted by their lived experiences and it becomes clear how each of them moves away from aspects of their faith as it was documented in the original film and reflects the current trends in American religiosity. What is learned from these six individuals reflects the statistic at the start of the film that 35% of millennials don’t believe in organized religion. As each subject discusses their faith, you can see how their belief structure adapts to fit their current circumstances.
This film is an essential addition to any religious film collection that holds the original documentary, What do you believe? as it provides an additional perspective on faith from the subjects and is highly recommended for all libraries supporting religious studies, American studies, and sociology as this title is designed and firmly stands on its own. Highly Recommended. There are numerous college/university and public library licensing options available. Aud: J, H, C, P.