SXSW Film

Audience of One

D: Michael Jacobs

By the time Pentecostal pastor Richard Gazowsky says, "It's either God, or I'm crazy," you're pretty sure it's the latter. Beginning as one man's singular vision of directing a top-of-the-line feature film, Audience of One gracefully descends into a study of a man deluded by extreme, blind faith. The rookie crew (aka Gazowsky's congregation) plans Star Wars-caliber sets and effects, and a house of cards is built just waiting to tumble. Before problems can arise, the entire cast and crew fly to Italy to meet the high-end equipment they shipped, only to sit idle or malfunction in the hands of amateurs over a week's shoot. The endgame may be predictable, but the path to failure is a long one that makes Jacobs' doc both infuriating and engrossing. As things continue to fall apart, there is no limit to the crew's belief or budget (now inflated to $200 million from a "bank in Germany"). Jacobs lets the camera do the talking as faith is tested, strengthened, and pushed to extremes.

Audience of One received a Special Jury Award in the Documentary Feature competition.

9:30pm, Paramount