The Dichotomy of Extreme Beliefs

Directed by Yuki Ward 

Type of Project: Documentary
Length: 34:00
Producer: Yuki Ward
Editors: Yuki Ward, Kelvin DuVal
Cinematographer: Yuki Ward
Sound Design: Yuki Ward

This film will show the reaction of the spiritual community, and John of Gods' followers to the sexual allegations against him, and the changing state of the spiritual center in Brazil.

The main theme will be dichotomy. The rift between the man and spiritualism, and of the followers' sense of right and wrong and allegiance to him.

On a personal level, I want to portray the dichotomy in myself of being a skeptic and being very open to my Mothers spirituality out of passive acceptance and my new concerns with the allegations and recent discovery of John of God’s practice being referred to in recent articles as a cult.

Undergraduate
kaw595@nyu.edu

My interest in this subject is personal as my Mother has been following John of God since I was quite young. For over a decade my Mother was visiting Brazil on a mostly yearly basis up until right before the allegations broke. When I looked into the allegations I was surprised to find the word cult is used to describe John of God and his followers.

The main theme will be dichotomy. The rift between the man and spiritualism, and of the followers' sense of right and wrong and allegiance to him.

On a personal level, I want to portray the dichotomy in myself of being a skeptic and being very open to my Mothers spirituality out of passive acceptance and my new concerns with the allegations and recent discovery of John of God’s practice being referred to in recent articles as a cult.