User Reviews

This is a beautifully made film, exceptional in how it pulls back from what could have been an exercise in colonialist anthropology. In "Waiting for John," documentary filmmaker Jessica Sherry tells the story of a "cargo cult" in the South Pacific—a small community of devout believers that waits for the United States military to come (and to return after having been to the island during the Second World War) with a cargo of goods to save them from destitution. As the film unfolds, the seeming absurdity of the community's beliefs take on an increasing sense of familiarity as we learn more of how believers have created myths and rituals out of the fragments of their known history. The film is fascinating as a cautionary tale in the spirit of the Samuel Becket play evoked in the title--and as a tale of human hopes for a better future. The use of historical footage from the Second World War brings important context to the religious forms these hopes take. But the film also explores contemporary tensions in the community that help explain why some believers leave the faith while others stay. "Waiting for John" is as richly rewarding to watch as it is informative, fascinating not only because of its beautiful cinematography and storytelling but because it stimulates more questions than it tries to answer.