Constantine's Sword

USA / 2007 / Oren Jacoby / 95 & 60 mins

The theme of US President-Elect, Barack Obama’s election night speech was tolerance. His message to the world was that America is more than a vicious rivalry between blue and red states. However, his non-partisan aspirations may encounter challenges from the radical religious right that still dominates a Republican Party base, championed by outgoing President George W. Bush, and now, by Governors Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, leading contenders to be the next GOP Presidential candidate. Palin, who has said that American soldiers in Iraq are “on a task from God” and that “there is a plan…God’s plan”, is riding on the wave of Christian conservatism that led to a breakdown between Church and State throughout the Bush years. In Constantine’s Sword, James Carroll, a former Catholic priest, examines the roots of how this radical fundamentalism evolved to become a defining influence on US military and foreign policy. The Democrats won a convincing victory in the 2008 elections, but Constantine’s Sword is a timely reminder of the deadly costs of an unholy union between religion and military power and of the politicized evangelicals who will continue to be a divisive factor in America, for years to come. To visit the official website www.constantinessword.com

“Constantine's Sword is endlessly fascinating – both because of its passion and its commitment to reason. There are moments in the film that are simply breath-taking.” (Errol Morris)

“Documentary at its best. The untold story...so important to tell and told so well.” (Albert Maysles)