Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

On November 18, 1978, more than 900 members of Peoples Temple died in the largest mass suicide/murder in history. Many have heard of the Jonestown tragedy, but few understand how charismatic spiritual leader Jim Jones could convince his congregation to follow him from Indiana to California and finally to their death in the remote jungles of Guyana. Delving into never before seen archival footage and survivor interviews, JONESTOWN: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PEOPLES TEMPLE fills in the lost history of this devastating event and examines the motivation of those involved.

Amid the intense social and cultural tumult of the 1960s, with the heady excitement of revolution in the air, many experimented with transcendental meditation, Black Power, free love, or LSD in a quest for enlightenment and guidance. But for others searching for progressive social change through Christianity, Jim Jones offered the perfect balance of spiritual fulfillment and political commitment. Not only did Jones preach about racial integration and equality, but he built a vigorous, community-based organization that provided food, clothing and shelter to its members. On the surface, Jones and the multi-racial Peoples Temple congregation espoused the values of an ideal society. But by the mid-70s, reports slowly began to emerge of physical and sexual abuse, financial corruption, and members being held against their will. As this compelling documentary draws to its staggering conclusion, director Stanley Nelson crafts a moving testament to the extent of loss in one misbegotten quest to rid the world of injustice.

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