On 18 November 1978, in the Guyanese agricultural commune of Jonestown, 918 people either committed suicide or were forcibly killed. Many, including a third that were minors, comprised the cult group Peoples Temple. There were also collateral victims, including a US Congressman investigating the cult’s leader Rev. Jim Jones, who had formed the religious order in Indianapolis in 1955. It combined Christian revivalism with a warped form of socialism. Jones' activities attracted criticism in the US and to avoid censure he relocated the group to Guyana in 1977. Marian Mohamed’s series, the latest instalment of the acclaimed One Day in America franchise, traces the cult’s origins, the activities that attracted the interest of US media and law enforcement, its move to Guyana and the subsequent massacre. It’s an impressive example of investigative filmmaking, bringing a fresh perspective to a chilling moment in recent American history.
An exclusive preview of the first two episodes of this upcoming Nat Geo series, followed by a conversation with the director Marian Mohamed will take place on June 16th.
Content Guidance: Film contains discussions about suicide.
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Special Programmes
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Topics
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Premiere statusWorld premiere
Film details
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Director(s)Marian Mohamed
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Country(s)United Kingdom
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Year2024
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Duration88 mins
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Executive producer(s)David Glover / 72 Films, Mark Raphael / 72 Films, Dan Lindsay, T.J. Martin
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Producer(s)David Glover / 72 Films, Mark Raphael / 72 Films, Dan Lindsay, T.J. Martin
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CinematographyStefan Wiesen
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EditingJake Martin, Jennifer Hampson BFE
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SoundLuke Hatfield
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Language(s)English
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Certification
