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A Time for Burning

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In 1966 Nebraska, a pastor tries to integrate his white congregation with a black church.

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Its impressionistic fusion of image and sound is also a passionate evocation of faith and its trials that's rare in any cinema. Jul 17, 2020 Full Review Jared Eisenstat Film Comment Magazine [C]aptures the enduring inflexibility of traditional institutions, and the sustained struggle and personal risk involved in transforming them. Feb 25, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Sadly, still quite relevant. Very depressing film about racism and inaction towards bettering race relations. A must-watch for any American, quite honestly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member wow. completely engrossing and riveting. as close to cinema verite as possible. it's people sitting down and discussing and debating the issue at hand. it doesn't feel set up or fake, but instead it's the filming of the discussions in living rooms and amongst church pews with peers. as well as the discussions between church leaders and staunch opponents and staunch supporters. then there are the discussions between church-goers who feel the weight of what is right, but also feel the weight of the cultural norm. it's heartbreaking to watch one man, in particular. you see the pain in his eyes and you see the urgent knowledge in his grimace. and you see the confusion and desparation when he admits that he's terrified and he realizes that there isn't a whole lot he can do. another man wisely explains to him that he's only just now realized the urgency of the matter. and that the others in the congregation have yet to come to the conclusion. if ever they will. most people see and celebrate epic, valiant struggles in the civil rights movement and in the issue of black/white integration - and rightly so, but watch this movie and see one of many micro-battles. it should give you some insight and understanding into the humanity of the whole thing. it was exciting to see such wisdom from some of the church leaders. it was a mini-testament that the gospel and the truth of jesus' teachings and the church - as they should be - are truly changeless despite the time frame. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member There's no narration, no explanatory text, it's all filmed as it's happening. Simply meetings of people discussing racial issues. And it's all utterly riveting. It's fascinating to see the problems of integration and acceptance being discussed at the height of the civil rights movement, by people who seem to have a genuine interest in finding solutions. But they're plagued by doubt and fear, letting themselves be cowed by what appears to be a small minority of those not ready for change. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Fascinating look at how the fears, insecurities, and mostly-unspoken racism of a white Lutheran church led to inaction during the Civil Rights movement. This kind of thing is why King had to write his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Time for Burning

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1966 Nebraska, a pastor tries to integrate his white congregation with a black church.
Director
Bill Jersey
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 7, 2009
Runtime
58m