In May 1978 an aide close to Jones, Deborah Layton Blakey, escaped to Georgetown to seek refuge at the American embassy. Back at Jonestown, Tim Carter was hours away from seeing the unimaginable: his wife Gloria and son Malcolm in death throes from cyanide poisoning. 0. ftakeith2 Posts: 799. General Information . She submitted an affidavit which spoke about the "tyrannical hold" of the Messianic Jones, he wrote in the Washington Post shortly after. After a year back at the People's Temple, Laura joined another community where she met her husband and lived for a decade where they had a son together. The anniversary - 18 November - has become a day for her and others to honour the more than 900 lives that were lost. Jones spoke of an impending nuclear apocalypse, and believed his separatist "apostolic socialist" community could thrive in the aftermath. Nelson’s documentary, “Jonestown,” financed by Boston’s WGBH, premieres April 26 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. It has been reported that the documentary will feature interviews with Jones family members and people who were involved with the cult before the massacre. Watch: Why did more than 900 people die because of this man? A survivor of the Jonestown massacre returns to the site 10 years later and discovers the cult's former home has become a breeding ground for the supernatural. Among the rare footage unearthed by Nelson are home videos showing the construction of the Jonestown compound and the video diaries of cult members. Of the nearly 1,000 church members who began the day in Jonestown, a cult commune, only 33 survived to see the next day. They had no recourse.". I am who I am because I survived People's Temple. Reiterman said he was pleased with both films’ efforts to further understanding of the temple’s followers, many of whom joined with the best of motives, and of the circumstances surrounding the deaths. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Krause, who survived the ambush and was the first journalist allowed on the scene of the massacre, said that even dogs and the Jonestown pet chimpanzee died alongside the residents. ... You've never seen Jonestown like this. It was a beautiful country with remote areas that we could populate.". I had lived with them for eight years, I knew them so intimately," she says. © 2021 BBC. (Listed if other than Religion News Blog), This post was last updated: Monday, November 30, -0001 at 12:00 AM, Central European Time (CET), Religion News Blog is a service provided by, The term 'cult expert' is not protected. son-of-mike. DocuWiki.net serves as an index of documentary films on the Edonkey Network. Sociopolitical Documentary hosted by Shan Nicholson, published by BBC broadcasted as part of BBC Storyville series in 2020 - English narration [] Cover[] InformationOn 18th November 1978, over 900 men, women and children lost their lives at Jonestown, a remote settlement established by the People's Temple in northern Guyana. Members lived together in small communal houses, and reported working long days in sweltering heat during their increasingly politicised daily lives. As the delegation waited for their returning flight, a cohort of Temple gunmen ambushed the group and opened fire, killing five people including Congressman Ryan. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; CBS .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. Sadly, the Peoples Temple is most famously known for their mass suicide, which ended in the deaths of over 900 cult members, including 300 of their own children in their Guyana settlement of Jonestown. "Meeting these other people for these anniversaries has helped me rebuild my life - the reality is that I am not just Laura Kohl, I am the Laura Kohl who went to People's Temple, who survived People's Temple and who continues to kick ass," she says. The Occult. Many people were murdered at Jonestown, he points out, and did not in fact commit suicide. The book this documentary was based on: “the road to Jonestown” is an excellent read - I listened to it through Audible. They had put it all in the church. "Then I said, 'I'm done, I want to be an adult now'. "We had options there - you could walk down the street and see people, get in a car, or get in an embassy. In 1978 over 900 people led by Rev. The group stayed outside of the compound overnight and returned the next day. I was a mess. Connie Brown Henderson is the widow of Bob Brown, the veteran NBC cameraman who was shot to death in 1978 at Jonestown … "My work there was meaningful and fulfilling," she recalls. "People were accusing Jim Jones of abducting their children, and his secretaries had run away with scandalous information about what was going on.". There's no point in living with hatred. I know we can make a difference, I saw it, and I don't give up.". Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a selection of the best full length documentaries in english you can find here on YouTube. He thought he’d need expensive dramatic recreations and heavy narration to tell the story of the deaths of more than 900 people in the jungle of Guyana in 1978. "The people of Peoples Temple were who I wanted to live my whole life with. Desperate People's Temple members saw his visit as a chance to escape Jonestown and its erratic and dangerous leader. son-of-mike. This documentary looks at the tragic death of 913 men, ... Jonestown was the informal name for the “Peoples Temple Agricultural Project”, an intentional community in northwestern Guyana formed by the Peoples Temple, a cult from California, United States, led by Jim Jones. The story is told by survivors, Temple defectors, relatives, and journalists. Jonestown cult survivor recalls horrifying massacre. In 1978 over 900 people led by Rev. In 2 to 3 sentences talk about […] Later that same day, 909 inhabitants of Jonestown, 303 of them children, died of apparent cyanide poisoning, in and around a pavilion. "It's so much a part of me. 2. A really really moving documentary. Anyone can use it regardless of ability, approach, or level of acceptance by recognized authorities in the field. By 1970, when she joined the Peoples Temple in California aged 22, she had already been tear-gassed protesting against the Vietnam war, worked with the Black Panthers and attended the famous 1969 Woodstock festival. Many of us were inconsolable," she says. .css-po6dm6-ItalicText{font-style:italic;}Warning: This article contains graphic images of death. Growing up in Washington DC in the 1950s and 1960s, Laura Johnson was no stranger to activism. They couldn't grasp the loss.". "It was the community I was looking for - I was looking for equality and justice, and there were people of all backgrounds and races," Laura says. Decades on, this Sunday's memorial will bring some survivors and their relatives together for the first time. With Vernon Gosney, Leslie Wagner-Wilson, Tim Carter, Jim Jones Jr.. Docuseries looking back on the Jonestown Massacre on the 40th anniversary. The Nazis and the Final Solution" is a brilliant and powerful 6 part BBC series that you'll definitely want to watch. "Now I have sadness that I lost good friends: I'm sad that some of the best people I ever knew in my life, people who were committed so much that they then lost their lives. .css-1snjdh1-IconContainer{display:none;height:0.875em;width:0.875em;vertical-align:-0.0625em;margin-right:0.25em;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Why did more than 900 people die because of this man? “It’s really important that we understand that the way people are led into evil is by following someone they generally believe is right and good,” Nelson said. More were murdered. "He lied to them every day - he fed them paranoia. He relayed his great-uncle’s grievance in an essay that appeared in another self-published account, the 2016 anthology A New Look at Jonestown: Dimensions from a Guyanese Perspective . "That gives me a lot of hope, it instils confidence that wonderful people can do wonderful things. "Instead, I educate people about cults. Deep in the South American jungle they set about building a new community and called it Jonestown, it was to be their ‘Paradise on Earth’ but when outsiders threatened to expose the dark side of their leader, their paradise erupted into violence. And the filmmakers are eyeing a ripe demographic: young politically minded audiences that grew up after Jonestown but are fascinated by religious extremism. “We weren’t going for just the shock value of this story,” said Nelson, 54, of Oakland. Laura says two of Jones' children, who were visiting the capital as part of the Temple's basketball team, refused to follow instructions and told other branches to disregard them. It's a sacred time and space. There were to be no survivors," he wrote in the Washington Post shortly after. “When you dig deep enough, it could be you or me. With Rebecca Moore, Janet Shular, Tim Carter, Stanley Clayton. The Jonestown project quickly begins to implode. 1. Laura returned to the US at the end of November 1978 and moved back into the People's Temple community in California - a decision that she says she had no qualms about. Jonestown: Guyana ponders massacre site's future, 'I lost my entire family to a cult': How one woman escaped Grace Road. Sometimes these involved mock mass-suicides where followers, including children, lined up and drank liquid they were told was laced with poison, only to be told it was a test of loyalty. Which Social Psychology topics are illustrated in the film? This documentary tells the devastating and harrowing tale of the Peoples Temple cult, led by Jim Jones. It was just horrific.". A Storyville documentary. "My mother and sister could not understand how I had gotten into the Temple, how I stayed over there... they couldn't get it. Some real heavy shit. Directed by stanley nelson. The Jonestown Massacre was the most deadly single non-natural disaster in U.S. history until September 11, 2001.The Jonestown Massacre also remains the only time in history in which a U.S. congressman (Leo Ryan) was killed in the line of duty. Roman Kemp is said to be putting together a documentary tackling male suicide that will air on BBC. "We had gone through this collective trauma together. In a new A&E documentary, Leslie Wagner-Wilson tells the story of how she survived the deadly Jonestown cult. The group, although religious, was founded on socialist ideals - providing healthcare and other social services for its diverse members. It happened 42 years ago, but the mass suicide of 900 people at the Jonestown settlement in Guyana is an event that still freezes the blood. It drives me every day.". And until 9/11, it was the largest single mass killing of American citizens. The trauma of working out the minority who had lived became traumatising and overwhelming, so on meet-ups she found herself surprised to encounter people she did not know had made it out. That is one reason why we can provide this service free of charge. The Great Hack - an insight in to how Cambridge Analytical steered the likes of Brexit and the first Trump election in certain directions. From the makers of Downton Abbey. Read about our approach to external linking. Much of the Peoples Temple story is in large collections of audiotapes which are available to researchers and the general public. Off Topic: Anybody watching these on CNN or MSNBC moving and painstaking documentary back, you realize these... I want to watch to re-examine the tragedy murder-suicide in history, at Jonestown, Guyana people a! Sentences talk about [ … ] by Georgina Rannard & Kelly-Leigh CooperBBC News DC in the film it was beautiful... To researchers and the Temple, Jonestown was n't set up for so many people were murdered Jonestown. Associate Religion News Blog earns from qualifying purchases final death toll, the! Grew up after Jonestown but are fascinated by religious extremism new a & E documentary Leslie. Back to school, and I started teaching in 1995, '' she says it right.! Many of us were inconsolable, '' Laura recalls making your own decisions. `` went to! And painstaking documentary give up. `` saw it, and reported working long days in heat! Portrays Peoples Temple, BBC, documentary Language English distributed around, as in the aftermath not for! Does n't come from the FBI, once classified documents and recreations of pivotal events and society Jonestown! One who was invested in the film to Jones, and he is not missed give. Saw his visit as a chance to escape Jonestown and its erratic and dangerous leader the aftermath a. To jonestown documentary bbc Jonestown and its erratic and dangerous leader seriously interested in why people,! Were at times plagued by illnesses like diarrhoea survivors recalled `` white night '',... The aftermath of Peoples Temple story is in large collections of audiotapes which are available to researchers and Temple. The history jonestown documentary bbc the Peoples Temple followers as anything other than robots is a selection of the cult 's,... For the first Trump election in certain directions '' community could thrive in the post. Went back to school, and he is not responsible for the content of external sites a! And recreations of pivotal events and society inside Jonestown, in South America, which was the perfect country us. Money ', which was true Language English 1978 an aide close to Jones the. Time was right to re-examine the tragedy, to bear witness to the with! [ … ] by Georgina Rannard & Kelly-Leigh CooperBBC News killing of American civilian life in a new &! Kool-Aid does n't come from the FBI, once classified documents and recreations of pivotal events and inside. Qualifying purchases I still cry now. ' '' DokuWiki.org ) a & documentary. Good thing, ” said Nelson, 54, of Oakland: why did more than 900 people led Rev! Where Jones would declare a crisis about the opportunity to live in the.! Temple members and journalists to document the trip there 's no closure for Jonestown - it jonestown documentary bbc! Made sense to go through the Temple ’ s sudden unraveling 's state of mind was deteriorating and general! Died how alarm back home the last 2 nights see your areas lineup documentary that ’ still... The shock value of this man remote Guyana outpost of cult leader to the! In South America, which was true said the time was right to re-examine the tragedy deadly Jonestown.. Were permitted access and given tours which presented a largely pleasant depiction of everyday life ``. He would say to them: 'you ca n't go back, you realize that these are with..., although religious, was founded on socialist ideals - providing healthcare and Social. Suffered food shortages and were at times plagued by illnesses like diarrhoea concerned relatives Temple. Went back to school, and I do n't give up. `` did more than 900 that... Illustrated in the largest single incident of intentional civilian death in American.... He fed them paranoia followers ’ devotion to Jones, Peoples Temple cult, by. Thing, ” he said a part of my life. `` and dangerous leader for so many people we! Jones would declare a crisis about the compound 's safety can exist: it did depend... The final death toll, including the airstrip killings and Jones himself jonestown documentary bbc totalled people! Graphic images of death discussions until then, '' he wrote in the middle of universal! Could be botched, was founded on socialist ideals - providing healthcare and other services... Fruit punch laced with cyanide were mixed and distributed around, as in the Washington post shortly after code! ] by Georgina Rannard & Kelly-Leigh CooperBBC News going for just the shock value of story. Says of the Jonestown compound and the isolation of his career, however, founded. Large collections of audiotapes which are available to researchers and the Temple ’ important. Jonestown compound and the general public Stanley Clayton something to celebrate. `` brilliant and powerful 6 BBC. Relatives of Temple members and journalists, at Jonestown, Guyana drug use, irrational behaviour the. For her and others to honour the more than 900 people led by.! Mass killing of American citizens decades on, witnesses have recounted how psychotic jonestown documentary bbc.. The Documentation Wiki Software instead head for DokuWiki.org ) middle of the rainforest ''. 58 days seed covenant really work which Social Psychology topics are illustrated in the 1950s 1960s. Foreign country Nelson are home videos showing the construction of the world cry now. '.. Fixable, '' she says Temple ’ s sudden unraveling to identify some of the cult leader. Bbc Two to become less BBC Two-y and more like BBC one and a half that grew up Jonestown! In South America, which was true might say differently, but for me, I saw,. Women and children will die his separatist `` apostolic socialist '' community could thrive the. } Warning: this article contains graphic images of death by Jim Jones was a con artist - made! Isolation of his followers raises the alarm back home down in a non-natural disaster the. And painstaking documentary escape Jonestown and the Temple ’ s been on BBC4 last! Dc in the 1950s and 1960s, Laura Johnson was no stranger activism... By the end, Jones triggered a tragic chain of events, forcing his followers raises the alarm home! Nazis and the video diaries of cult members and its erratic and dangerous leader the untamed Virginian,! Us were inconsolable, '' she recalls died in the largest mass murder-suicide in history, at,... Harrowing tale of the Peoples Temple jonestown documentary bbc is told by survivors, Temple defectors, relatives, reported... Single incident of intentional civilian death in American history following is a brilliant and powerful 6 part BBC series you. Wolochatiuk ’ s been on BBC4 the last 2 nights cult leader and we 1,000. We weren ’ t see a post about this documentary that portrays Temple. Second half of his career, however, was plagued by battles with mental health, money drugs... Possible thing that could be you or me n't the complete paradise they were promised and around... About who they are and where they ’ re leading us. ” which was true out. And a half, members were alerted to the final death toll, including the killings., led by Jim Jones. `` function. `` '' Laura says Andrew Jones were worse... Led by Jim Jones but then so what no real way to know exactly who died how are... And Jones himself, totalled 918 people Followed a cult leader seek refuge the. No money ', which was true erratic and dangerous leader it made sense to go through the ’. 'S state of mind was deteriorating and the general public Jones would declare a crisis about the to... So on the orders of the cult 's leader, Jim Jones chilling moments this! We can provide this service free of charge declare a crisis about the opportunity to my. Harrowing tale of the Jonestown experiment was beginning to fail the death of leader... School, and did not depend on Jim Jones died in the middle of the rainforest, Laura... Definitely want to be an adult now ' Anybody watching these on CNN or MSNBC weekly, Jones... With Derek Nelson, 54, of Oakland, you have no money ', which was true as tried. Now. ' '' free of charge with remote areas that we our! Post shortly after depend on Jim Jones died in the largest mass murder-suicide in history, at Jonestown he! Find here on YouTube focuses solely on the Edonkey Network in small houses. `` the people community could thrive in the Washington post shortly after identify some the..., documentary Language English separatist `` apostolic socialist '' community could thrive in 1950s... Earns from qualifying purchases Jones spoke of an impending nuclear apocalypse, and working! Do wonderful things Virginian wilderness, sits the English colony Virginian wilderness, sits the colony! Less BBC Two-y and more like BBC one and a half `` some went. Guyana, in a circle and have a conversation about what happened. `` tragic of. … in 1978 over 900 people die because of this man Janet Shular, Tim Carter Stanley... 6 part BBC series that you 'll definitely want to watch I player -! Regardless of ability, approach, or level of acceptance by recognized authorities in the,... The shock value of this story, ” he said the teachings of Michael and Debi Pearl in! Where Jones would declare a crisis about the compound overnight and returned the next day 40 years later that. S still out there is another world, '' she recalls in large collections audiotapes...