Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus

The United States is anything but united when it comes to varying cultures in different regions of the country. America has always had these varying cultures, even back to the days of the thirteen colonies. Today one of the biggest cultural differences in America is the difference between Southern and Northern culture. Now I know that this can be problematic to even define what southern culture is, for in fact what is done in one state may be chided in another. I'm sure certain people in Texas would wish to differentiate themselves from people in South Carolina and I'm sure South Carolina would wish to differentiate themselves from North Carolina. Even within the states themselves there are differences. But at least someone tries to understand what it is about the southern culture that creates an authenticity that is somehow wholly American. Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus (Andrew Douglas) is a film that looks into the back roads culture of the south. The small towns, rural back roads, dives, bars and churches all play a part in creating a world that is strangely beautiful.



Jim White, a converted southerner goes on a journey through the backroads of the south in order to find the meaning behind the southern culture. Along his travels the film interjects moments where musicians perform snippets of songs that reflect the southern culture. The music can been described as alt-rock or rather eclectic folk. The film includes music from varying musicians, including Jim White, The Handsome Family, Melissa Swingle and Lee Sexton. Even David Johansen (ex-New York Dolls member) appears in the film. The music of the film compliments the southern world that is presented, with songs inspired by heartache, death, and religion.



Religion is the main talking point with many of the people who are interviewed in the film. The value that church has on people throughout White's journey is at times odd, profound, hypocritical and traditional. The film does not posit what the differences are between religion in the south compared to that of other states across America, but what is seen is a religious fervor that the filmmakers can only show as something that is southern. In one segment prisoners are interviewed about their crimes and their coming to a redemptive moment. This only seems common amongst prisoners but then there are interviews with those who are not prisoners and redemption is something wholly different. Bar patrons speak of their desire to live life to the fullest on Saturday nights but then find salvation come Sunday morning. Though what is seen in the film is a Protestant belief system, the thinking behind some of those interviewed almost seems Catholic. Penance and forgiveness comes with confession on Sundays but then it is back into the world, the cycle ongoing.



Throughout the film White travels in a beat up Chevy that he borrows from someone he sees as a typical southerner. Early in the film he comes upon a junk yard of sorts and finds a Jesus statue. He purchases the statue and its size is more than the trunk of the Chevy can handle. Jesus sticks out of the car as White travels the south. The statue can be seen as the burden of religion upon the people of the south. As the people try to live up to standards or traditions that have been upon them, the pressure to continue is unnecessary. By the end of the film the statue is left on a desolate road, White drives off and the camera tracks in on the statue. It is as if White is saying that the burden needs to be abandoned if anyone is to truly live. This is one possibility but maybe there is another.



The statue of Jesus shows Jesus pointing to a heart near his heart. As White had intentionally chose to go through the backroads of the south to find the authentic, real southern world. It is possible to say that in essence he chose to become lost in the southern world in order to find the reasons behind the southern culture. The leaving of the statue marks the leaving behind of what was being searched for. The leaving of the statue on the side of the road may very well let us know that one can search for the reasons why the south is unique but to truly find those reasons you have to lose yourself. If religion is so close to the hearts of southerners then Jesus may very well hold the south close to his heart.



Searching For The Wrong Eyed-Jesus shows a world that is at times so different from what is regularly seen on television and news stories across the country. But in that world that is so rarely seen there is an authenticity and beauty that is reflected within the people who live within the back road world. The people reflect what they know to be true, which may be more than what most of us can bare.