Soldiers in the Army of God


Synopsis
This documentary chronicles the lives and activities of several men involved in a loosely knit community of anti-abortion extremists calling themselves soldiers in the “Army of God.” Unapologetic interviews with these men reveal their beliefs and the means and methods with which they plan to take action against doctors performing abortions and clinics providing abortion options. Paul Hill is featured prominently. He was convicted of murder in the deaths of a doctor and his escort in Pensacola, Florida in 1994 and was eventually executed by the state of Florida.

Observations
The men featured in this documentary were extreme caricatures of anti-abortionists. Their bravado and self-righteousness made me cringe. The movie is full of odd little moments that serve to show the dedication and conviction of these activists. For example, there is a conversation filmed between two of the main “soldiers” where Bob Lokey confesses to Neil Horsley that he was called by God to circumcise himself while he was in prison. Hmmm. OK. I’m not sure that this movie does anything for anyone. It makes pro-choicers nod their heads knowingly, confirming that anti-abortionists are crazy fanatics. And it makes pro-lifers shake their heads, complaining that all anti-abortionists aren’t crazy fanatics.

As a side note, I found it very interesting that the extreme anti-abortion activists in this movie were predominantly men. The pro-life women in the movie were mostly super conservative, in long dresses making covered dishes for Army of God picnics with a baby on each hip. I believe this to be a caricature as well. This feeds what some pro-choicers want to believe -- that pro-lifers are all baby breeding, shotgun shooting, midwestern bible beaters. I guess a documentary with average Americans and their opinions about abortion wouldn’t have been very exciting. Probably a bunch of people in a room just hoping that to have or not to have an abortion is never a decision they have to make.

Rating:

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