FOR THE RECORD:
Documentarian Martin Doblmeier Makes Religion Relevant
PHOTO: © JAMES KARALES
By Stephen Chavez
Abraham Joshua Heschel (right), the subject of one of Doblmeier's latest films, walks alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the Selma march in 1965.
T
he last 14 months of pandemic-induced self-isolation have driven us into our kitchens to bake bread and try out new recipes; to our bookshelves to read (or reread) forgotten books or new releases; and to streaming services to binge-watch movies and television programs. Those who haven’t yet discovered the treasures offered by Journey Films (JourneyFilms.com) are missing out on a trove that ministers to both emotional and spiritual healthfulness. Martin Doblmeier, award-winning documentarian and founder of Journey Films, has done for religious documentaries what Ken Burns has done for historical subjects. Over the last 45 years, Doblmeier’s skills as an interviewer, writer, film editor, and documentarian have established him as one of the premier voices for faith and spirituality in North America. His films routinely bridge the gap between religious and secular broadcasting and have been viewed on all the major North American television networks as well as on Public Broadcasting. Just this year, his film Spiritual Audacity: The Story
“The job of a filmmaker—at least in my space—is to explore, not preach.… In spiritual matters, you try to get people to be as curious as possible.”
20 Pacific Union Recorder
I Newsdesk
