PARADISE returns to Austin

Ever since the 2010 Austin Film Festival, I’ve been waiting for one specific film to come back to town; this week, it’s finally happening.  After a year on the festival circuit, PARADISE RECOVERED is back in Austin for Lights. Camera. Help., a festival dedicated to films that support nonprofits and cause-driven organizations.

PARADISE RECOVERED is the story of Esther, a kind-hearted young woman dedicated to her fundamentalist church.  In order to earn money for the group, she takes a job at a health food store, where she meets Gabriel, a pastor’s kid turned skeptic, and Mark, his chronically goofy roommate.  When Esther is suddenly cast out of the sect, her new friends offer her a place to live and encourage her to examine the true nature of her faith.

Though the story isn’t autobiographical, writer/producer Andie Redwine drew from her own experience growing up in a high-demand church.  She left the group at age eighteen and has been an activist against spiritual abuse for the past twelve years.  PARADISE RECOVERED is Andie’s first screenplay, so she sought help from long-time friend Storme Wood, who eventually became the project’s director.  Storme was the one who decided to cast in Austin (the film was shot in Austin and Indiana); the ensemble includes Heather del Rio as Esther, Dane Seth Hurlburt as Gabriel, Oliver Luke as Mark, and Andrew Sensenig as dogmatic pastor David Sawyer.

The story is a modern retelling of the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, but this is no Sunday school video (trust me, I’ve seen them all).  In watching PARADISE RECOVERED, I was impressed to see such an open-minded and intelligent discussion of grace, legalism, and individual freedom.

Andie said that almost everyone in the cast and crew had some kind of experience with an abusive church, whether direct or through a loved one, but that the production environment was healing and non-judgmental.  She added, “My husband and executive producer, Ron Becker, had said all along that if our film helped one person find peace, it was worth making.  And we were able to accomplish that before the film was even edited.”

Now that it is edited, audience members are coming forward to say how they relate personally to the story or how watching the film has helped them to empathize with abuse victims.  PARADISE RECOVERED has also collected a handful of awards.  After the World Premiere at the Heartland Film Festival and the Texas Premiere at the Austin Film Festival, the film claimed the Grand Jury Prize for a Narrative Feature at the 2011 deadCENTER Film Festival, along with a number of other festival honors.  The filmmakers recently signed an agreement with Otter Creek Motion Pictures for distribution and plan to have a limited theatrical release this fall.

The film screens this Thursday, July 28^th at the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service (2311 Red River) from 7-10 pm.  The filmmakers are expecting a sellout, so move quickly.

The proceeds from Lights. Camera. Help. go to the nonprofits affiliated with the films; in addition, PARADISE RECOVERED has already committed 10% of its profits to Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center, a mental health care facility specializing in cult and spiritual abuse recovery.  During research for the screenplay, Andie interviewed over 100 cult survivors and has since been in touch with many more through social media and the film’s website.  “We’d like for survivors to see that they aren’t alone,” she said.  “Raising awareness for mental health practitioners and giving hope to broken people have been two of the goals of our film.”

Preach on.

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