Narrated by Shortbus and Can You Ever Forgive Me? star Mx Justin Vivian Bond, the explosive new documentary The Gospel of Eureka witnesses as love, faith and civil rights collide in a southern town – where evangelical Christians and drag queens step into the spotlight to dismantle stereotypes.
Taking a personal, and often comical look at negotiating differences between religion and belief through performance, political action, and partnership, gospel drag shows and passion plays set the stage for one hell of a show.
The pair behind the film, Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher, are a documentary directing team who have worked together for over a decade. Their films have exhibited at major festivals around the world including Sundance, Tribeca, NYFF, LAFF, True/False, Cannes, Locarno, and Leipzig. Their first film, October Country, was the winner of the Silverdocs Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature, was nominated for Best Documentary at the Independent Spirit awards in 2009, playing in festivals around the world winning numerous awards, including two Cinema Eyes.
“Cinema, like theater, can heighten our belief or make us believe the unbelievable. It can also disrupt and deconstruct our belief. Without condescension we hope to show that what is crass, campy, or even profane in the eyes of one group is sacred and full of communal significance in the eyes of another,” the filmmaking pair said in a joint statement.
“We consider this project a continuation of the cinematic exploration of the links between class, commerce, and American ritual that is central to our work. In an era where fundamentalism in both faith and politics rule the national stage we hope to present a drama that explores the complex nature of belief and the fluid nature of faith but also provides personal windows into the issues and problems facing America as a whole.”
Watch the sensational trailer for The Gospel of Eureka below and click here to pre-order your copy. The film is coming to DVD in April.
