The L.A. Film Festival is heating up. Autho [4]r and journalist and fallen Roman Catholic priest James Carroll came to the world premiere on Sunday night in Westwood of the new documentary, "Constantine' Sword," based on his book of the same title. The film, by Oren Jacoby, takes the viewer on a 2,000-year trip through the Christian faith's relationship with violence and anti-Semitism. Where did it start? And why? As a once-true believer, Carroll is the empathetic heart of the film, and he goes back to the time of Constantine to trace the roots of Christian holy war. Constantine conquered and then converted Rome 300 years after the death of Christ, after having a vision of a cross in the sky. From that time forward religion and violence, Carroll learns, have an intimate connection in the Christian faith, an apt lesson for those of us quick to condemn Islam as a violent creed. "The truth will set you free," he said in the q&a after the screening, quoting the gospel. "But first it will break your heart."

The film does not yet have distribution.