The Hutterites: To Care and Not to Care

Rating:
Summary: On Being Interpreted as Utopian
Review: "The Hutterites: To Care and Not to Care" is a sensitive and beautifully filmed portrayal of an agricultural utopian community that lives on the border regions of the United States and Canada. There are some 30,000 Hutterite souls living in approximately 300 self contained villages. Some 15 of the 300 villages are featured in this film.

Dr. John Hostetler of Temple University, a leading authority on the Hutterites and the Amish, served as a consultant to John L. Ruth who wrote, directed, and narrated this story.

It is indeed fascinating to watch the practices of a self sufficient community in operation. To actually see where it might be possible to become totally self-sufficient and where reliance on outside parties may be necessary. The Hutterites are pragmatic when it comes to the purchase of tools necessary to accomplish their ends, yet management of how the tools are to be used, remains under the caring direction of the community.

The film suggests that since the individual Hutterite is primarily involved in caring for the community as a whole, as compared to a more self interested lifestyle, that the byproduct is that as individuals, they can feel relatively care-free, since they are guaranteed a home, food, socialization, and culture as a benefit of others contributions to that same community.

While the flaws of human nature are to be expected in any group, this film tends to not mirror those aspects too strongly, in order to maintain the feeling of sober love and responsibility that Mr. Ruth intends for us to see. As a result, the film ends with us feeling good about the Hutterites choices towards maintaining their own particular way of life.

Perhaps, much as in VH1's "Behind the Music" series on musical performers, it is the intention of loving and paying respects to a group of individuals, that makes us feel good about such programs. In a rather straight forward way, this style of story telling suggests a kind of unconditional love for the subjects portrayed. And this is much as we would want done for ourselves and our own personal stories.

Rating:
Summary: It opened my eyes
Review: Who are the Hutterites? I had no idea. This documentary was responsible for opening my eyes to a completely different world of God-Fearing people. I knew much of the Amish and Mennonites but not the Hutterites. This film explores, with modesty and fairness, this group of men and women living, I believe, in North Dakota. They are simple folks: farming supplies the majority of their livelihood and they are kind to the environment, have an unyielding love of God and are not ashamed to share their beliefs with a world that, otherwise, does not understand their lifestyle. Appreciation for these gentle people will help people of all religions understand the importance of community and worship. I am so glad they still make documentaries like this. This film contains no objectional material, however there is a scene in which ducks are butchered that may disturb younger viewers.