FANTASIA 2020: Prophet and the Space Aliens
FANTASIA 2020Even with the sensationalized title of The Prophet and the Space Aliens, Yoav Shamir’s documentary is a straightforward look at the controversial religious figure Raël né Claude Vorilhon and his loyal band of followers called the Raëlians. Shamir becomes involved with the Raëlians after attending an award ceremony, of which he was the one honoree. Growing skeptical of the religious order, Shamir sets out to uncover the truth about the Raël movement.
Shamir follows Raël and his followers all over the world – from Japan to France to Burkina Faso. While Raël’s movement has been mired with controversy, it isn’t that difficult to understand why so many people would begin following the enlightened Frenchman. Raël advocates for traditional morals like peace and love but also promotes sexual liberation and a return to traditional belief systems. It is also a science-based religion, in Burkina Faso, the Raëlians run a hospital dedicated to reversing FGM and restoring female pleasure. Raël also promotes that the key to eternal life is human cloning, claiming that the Raëlians have achieved this scientific feat despite having no proof. Raël himself is an enigmatic character, tiptoeing on the line between charming and manipulative. Dressed in white linens, Raël leads his people in song and meditation, bringing all of his Raëlian followers together.
Yoav Shamir flip flops between his views on Raël and his followers. The audience hears his voice asking interview questions to Raël and his inner circle, and his narration as he contemplates the belief system as well as the concept of prophets, cults, sects and religion as a whole. There are points when he completely understands the Raëlians and times when he wants to expose the lies. Shamir remains kind but is aware of the manipulation tactics Raël may use on him. The director ensures to not only interview the biased Raëlians but also former followers of Raël and Professor Daniel Boyarin, who studies the history of religion, providing insight into how organized religion evolves.
Shamir uses a multitude of different conventions to illustrate the Raëlian movement. Along with interviews from past and present followers, Shamir grows close to Raël himself, allowing the viewer to understand every side of the movement. Boyarin’s historical background asks the viewer not to write off the Raëlians as just another cult, as he explains the proper meanings behind religion, cults and sects. Shamir also gains access to archival footage of the Raëlian movement’s origins in the 1970s and uses colourful animated sequences to show Raël’s encounters with the space aliens known as the Elohim.
Yoav Shamir takes on the gargantuan task of showing different sides of organized religion in The Prophet and the Space Aliens. His documentary ponders why so many people have decided to follow Raël’s teachings but never judges these people as the film depicts absurdist events. Instead, the viewer is given the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they trust and believe Raël and his religious enlightening from UFO encounters.