Our People DVD - Review

Review by Ryan O’Connell (’On Fire’ magazine)

Our People opens with William Booth’s granddaughter regaling BBC’s Michael Parksinson with a tale of her grandfather berating her claim to have ‘tried her best’. The Founder calmly explains; ‘When God helps us, we can do better than our best.’

The documentary that follows cements his words. Our People chronicles the tale of an orphaned pawn shop worker and bookish young girl meeting, marrying and relentlessly pursuing the souls of the forgotten.

At its conclusion, this reviewer found himself viewing today’s Army’s mission, culture and reputation in much greater perspective.

While bereft of footage, Our People gleans great narrative mileage from photographs and vivid sketches of 19^thcentury London.

A neat and engaging narrative, the film avoids the usual pitfall of cramming in too many voices, opting rather for a handful of extremely well-versed historians and descendants of early Salvationists. Excerpts from the diaries of William and Catherine are particularly tasty.

Even handled poorly, a story this good would stand on its own two feet; two idealists catapulting their efforts into an international ‘religion of action’.  And it’s handled well.

Our people is available via the website - www.ourpeoplefilm.com