The Bridge: A Movie About Scientology

Brett Hanover’s new feature length film, The Bridge, has raised a few eyebrows on Internet discussion groups. Debuting in Stavanger, Norway, home of Scientology critic Andreas Heldal-Lund operator of the website http://www.xenu.net, during the 10 year anniversary celebration of Heldal-Lund’s website the film was immediately released to the public via Google and XenuTV.

Audience reactions are mixed. Current members of the controversial Church of Scientology, considered by some to be a cult, and some ex-members fault the film based on technical inaccuracies of various procedures practiced by the church. While other ex-members and many non-members look past the small discrepancies and find the over all meaning of the film.

The film, shot over a period of five days with a tight budget, gives the non-initiate food for thought about this controversial group. The dual plot line follows the stories of Diana Wheat, played by first time actress Carole Smith, and Amy Grey (Diana Heaton) and their struggles with the group.

In stark contrast to the satirical approach of the American television show South Park, Hanover gives us a serious look at real policies the Church of Scientology about which the church is often criticized. Isolation, the church’s official disconnection policy, and the arguably manipulative techniques the group uses to keep members from leaving the church.

Conversely, he also shows how some critics and protesters, as well meaning as they may be, have an unintended effect on individual members that encourage them to stay in the cult.

Despite the technical inaccuracies, many ex-scientologists and non-scientologists are impressed by the film. With some ex-scientologists commenting that the film does not come close to showing how bad it actually is inside of the Church of Scientology.

Church officials could not be contacted for comment.

Refs:

The Bridge web page
http://blueci.fatcow.com/index/Films/The%20Bridge/thebridge.html

The Bridge Film:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-281401132405721769&hl=en