City of Joel (2018) User Reviews

Religious Conflict in One Town

[srooks1 · 7/10 · 18 November 2021]

City of Joel is a troubling film. It highlights a conflict of religious freedom and the establishment of an official religion. Neither the Christians, nor the Conservative Jews are without fault. Both sides are judgmental and not above using politics to get their agendas passed. As the film points out, the Christians are losing their idyllic lifestyle and the Jews are moving away to find another place to settle.

Fundamentally Spiritual Warfare Depicted As Parochialism

[csenior-05946 · 5/10 · 19 February 2021]

The film depicts competing Jewish and "Christian" cultures--living side-by-side--seeking coexistence as American citizens. What is undeniably evident over time, is that neither culture wishes to 'integrate' with the other, despite sharing access to local geophysical, government, social, financial, spiritual, and economic resources. The Director's manipulation of cultural tensions absent spiritual insights leaves this viewer doubting the value of chicken soup for a winter cold.