Saved

This documentary offers an intimate and often unsettling look inside the Waters Avenue Church in rural Wisconsin, a community that believes in delivering its members from demonic possession. Through candid interviews and vérité footage, the film captures the intense rituals and deeply held beliefs of the congregation and its leaders as they confront what they perceive as spiritual warfare.

"Saved" was widely praised by critics for its unflinching portrayal of faith, possession, and the human condition, earning acclaim for its respectful yet probing approach to a controversial subject. Audiences were often divided, with some finding the film profoundly moving and others deeply disturbing.

• Praised for its empathetic and non-judgmental portrayal of extreme faith.
• Noted for its disturbing yet compelling examination of spiritual beliefs and practices.
• Acclaimed for its raw and intimate vérité filmmaking style.

Google audience: Google users frequently laud the film for its courageous exploration of faith and the emotional intensity of the depicted exorcism rituals. Many appreciated the filmmakers' sensitive approach, though some found the subject matter challenging and unsettling.

Won the Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

Director Kirsten Johnson initially intended to make a film about her family, but when she encountered the intense spiritual practices of the Waters Avenue Church, her focus shifted to documenting their unique faith and rituals.