Film Review: Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul
★★★★
A clever examining and critique of the Black Megachurch in the United States, this feature film debut from Adamma and Adanne Ebo is a brilliant balance of social commentary, humour, and warmth.
Church has been central in the lives of Black America since the days of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. And much like this film did, opening on a shot of Black Jesus, it used to be about putting Jesus at the forefront. Honk for Jesus is a brilliant critique of the way it has in places evolved into a show of sorts. A theatre performance, with the pastor as the leading man. A celebrity in his own right, obsessed with image, drowning in luxury - clothes, cars, homes - and it is not God who is King, it is He, who literally sits on a golden throne.
But what is lovely about this film, is that whilst it critiques and questions, it doesn’t disrespect. It doesn’t belittle. It isn’t punching down for a laugh.
Regina Hall stars as Trinitie Childs, wife of Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs - played note perfect by Sterling K. Brown. The film follows the two of them in the aftermath of a scandal that shut down their baptist mega-church, as they try to relaunch. They give very Kim K/Kanye pre divorce energy. Whilst Sterling does an impeccable job as Lee-Curtis, for me, the masterclass in this film comes from Regina Hall. She plays Trinitie from such a place of understanding, that whilst her choices might feel infuriating, you can’t help but feel deep sympathy for her. She played no part in the scandal that brought her church down, but she’s a woman who is so deeply connected to the teachings of her church, that she can’t walk away and let Lee-Curtis face the consequences alone. She grapples with what she believes and what she wants, and there’s a really touching moment between her and her mother that discusses how loving the church so deeply can see women accepting mistreatment and unhappiness.
Despite having quite heavy subject matters - misogyny, misogynoir, sexual misconduct, homophobia in the church, organised religion - it is a genuinely very funny film. It finds it’s tonal balance switching between documentary style filming, and “off camera” style filming. The personas on camera and who they want to be perceived as are very funny. But who they are when the cameras aren’t rolling? When they’re living in their truth? That is emotional, heartwarming, tender, tragic. It’s real, and it’s human. And that juxtaposition is where the magic of this films critique lies. It isn’t aiming to give a solution to the problems of the mega church, it simply holds up a mirror. It says “question things, because blind faith hides reality, and look at what that leads to.”
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul is scheduled for release on September 2nd 2022 in cinemas and for streaming on Peacock.