Wheat and Tares

What happens when the world ends?

Wheat and Tares What happens when the world ends? For Harold Camping and his followers on May 21st 2011 the saved would go to heaven, earthquakes would shake the world and the damned would spend the rest of eternity in gloom. Without the slightest doubt about the coming apocalypse they spend their life's savings, quit their jobs and clash with family members and others who don't share their conviction. But what do they do after nothing happens on May 21st...?

"I'm going to be here all that weekend, I'm going on suicide watch, they won't even know," Kevin says with an audible tremble in his voice. His parents think the world is going to end in a couple of days and their belief is so sincere it has rocked their family to its core. For a smart, streetwise kid like Kevin the fact they've quit their jobs and given up all other aspects of their life in order to pray and get closer to God is terrifying. "I'm just hoping they're paying their bills, or one day I'm going to be sitting here and the electricity will go out."

They believe the world's going to end because radio preacher Harold Camping has told them so, based on his interpretation of the bible and belief that humanity has strayed too far from God's original message: "It's scandalous when we think about how the world is mocking the bible." According to the faithful a great earthquake will start in New Zealand and roll all around the world killing most of the world's population and transporting the saved to a new divine level. "We don't know who these people are, but we know there's about 200 million people that God's interested in saving." Candance explains to a couple of young teenagers who stop by to pick up her leaflets.

But why are all these people so eager to accept Camping's doomsday prediction? Dig deeper and each person reveals a fascinating internal explanation for their faith. Candance points to the breakdown in families as a strong indicator that the world is ripe for change: "Look what's happening with people's relationships." Only to reveal later that, "I'm actually divored, we've been separated 20 years." Darlene, almost at her wit's end with family members who don't believe her, finds the approach of the end of the world has provided a clarity and meaning that wasn't there before: "It's so funny all the years I was working like a maniac to make money and being careless in my actions but I was sane then. But now when I have total faith in my Lord...and really come to a place where I'm happy, now I'm crazy."

Tick tock, tick tock the hours and seconds count down ... the hour arrives ... but nothing happens. "This is a big deal and I've got to think it out." Camping says in the hours after the 21st comes and goes. So how did the faithful take it? They are so rocked to their core they can't return to being their normal selves. "To me it almost feels like a death in a way." Candance says. "It changes you and you can't go back."

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FULL SYNOPSIS

The Producers


Louter Film is founded as a platform by and for young filmmakers to develop their skills, stimulate creativity and unite talent in order to produce independent films. Renewing or traditional cinema, blockbusters or arthouse. Louter Film loves all cinema and it’s young creators.

Making The Film


When the makers discovered the 21 May group, they knew instantly that they were dealing with something remarkable. Due to the group’s incredible dedication and the way the media responded to them, this subject has been much discussed the world over. Even with their suspicious attitude toward the media, the makers succeeded in winning the group’s trust and documenting its inner workings.

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