Chiwetel Ejiofor delivers a deeply moving portrayal of a Pentecostal preacher in the throes of a religious crisis in “Come Sunday,” a glimpse into the soul of a real-life man challenged to change his beliefs.
Based on a reported segment on “This American Life,” “Come Sunday” tells the story of Bishop Carlton Pearson, who for many years led a million-strong Pentecostal ministry based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, until 1998, when he found his faith challenged.
Pearson decided that he no longer believed in hell, no longer believed that only saved Christians would go to heaven and no longer believed that his form of faith was the only one that God could accept. In so doing, he broke with the orthodoxy of his mentor Oral Roberts and threw his ministry into confusion.
Most of his followers left. Pearson stuck to his newfound beliefs, and paid a dear price.
There are many unusual aspects to this story, not least of which is a reminder that a lot of religious people still believe in an actual hell. The other is the reminder of how rarely Hollywood movies explore faith, and how important a part of the human experience are the deeply held beliefs of the faithful.
Ejiofor fully inhabits the charismatic Pearson and his crisis of conscience, when late in his career he is suddenly unable to believe that the Creator would reject so many of His creations simply because they did not accept Jesus Christ.
Pearson was at the screening and pulled the audience at the Eccles Theater to their feet. He explained that he spent endless hours talking to the screenwriter Marcus Hinchey and director Joshua Marston, laying himself bare.
“Adam and Eve were naked and felt no shame,” he told the crowd. “I undressed in front of this man [Hinchey], just by talking.” And of seeing his own story up on screen he said, “Our heads are spinning, it makes more sense to me, to Gina, to my children, than when we lived it.”
Ejiofor is supported by a strong cast including Martin Sheen as Oral Roberts, Jason Segel as Pearson’s business collaborator Henry, Condola Rashad as his wife Gina and Danny Glover as his uncle Quincy. Lakeith Stanfield (“Get Out”) gives a touching performance as a gay parishioner torn between his devotion to Pearson and his sexual preference.
The movie, which will debut on Netflix, played in the Premieres section of the Sundance Film Festival.
97 Sundance Portraits From TheWrap at Acura Studios With Keira Knightley, Robert Pattinson and More (Photos)
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Chloë Sevigny, "Lizzie"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Lizzie" writer Bryce Kass, actor Denis O'Hare, director Craig William Macneill and actress Chloë Sevigny
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Believer" director Don Argott with subjects Tyler Glenn and Dan Reynolds
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"What They Had" stars Taissa Farmiga, Michael Shannon, writer-director Elizabeth Chomko, Blythe Danner and Hilary Swank
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Michael Shannon, "What They Had"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Meg McGarry, Flynn McGarry, Cameron Yates and Laura Coxson, "Chef Flynn"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Flynn McGarry, "Chef Flynn"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Jesse Peretz, "Juliet, Naked"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Chris-O'Dowd, "Juliet, Naked"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Eugene Jarecki, "The King"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"An Evening With Beverly Luff Lin" director Jim Hosking with stars Aubrey Plaza, Matt Berry, Craig Robinson, and Jemaine Clement
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Private Life" stars Kayli Carter and Kathryn Hahn with writer-director Tamara Jenkins
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kayli Carter, "Private Life"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Private Life" producer, Ali Abouomar
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Eighth Grade" writer-director Bo Burnham and star Elsie Fisher
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kiersey Clemons, "Hearts Beat Loud"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Arizona" director Jonathan Watson with stars Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Gillies, Danny McBride, Lolli Sorenson, Kaitlin Olsen and Rosemarie Dewitt
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Elizabeth Gillies, "Arizona"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Dead Pigs" director Cathy Yan with stars Li Meng, Zazie Beetz and David Rhysdahl
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Cathy Yan, "Dead Pigs"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Zazie Beetz, "Dead Pigs"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-actor Rafael Casal, director Carlos López Estrada, writer-actor Daveed Diggs, actors Janina Gavankar, Justin Chu Cory and Jasmine Cephas Jones, "Blindspotting"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Jason Ritter, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Common, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Isabella Amara, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-director-star Carlson Young, "The Blazing World"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Robert Pattinson, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Mia Wasikowska, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Silas Howard, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Jim Parsons, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Priyanka Chopra, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Claire Danes, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Octavia Spencer, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actors Jeffrey Wright, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and director Anthony Mandler, "Monster"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Dominic West and Kiera Knightly, "Colette"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kiera Knightly, "Colette"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor John Cho, "Search"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"The Kindergarten Teacher" director, Sara Colangelo and actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Kindergarten Teacher" actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Kindergarten Teacher" actress, Anna Baryshnikov
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Musician Aloe Blacc, "America's Musical Journey"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Jessica Sanders, "End of the Line"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Forest Whitaker, "Burden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Garrett Hedlund, "Burden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Talal Derki, "Of Fathers and Sons"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director, Boots Riley, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Lakeith Stanfield, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Armie Hammer, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Jason Segel, "Come Sunday"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Condola Rashad, "Come Sunday"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Stephen Maing, "Crime and Punishment"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
The young women of the "Skate Kitchen" skate collective, with director Crystal Moselle and co-star Jaden Smith, "Skate Kitchen"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Jaden Smith, "Skate Kitchen"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Charlie Sexton, director Ethan Hawke, actress Alia Shawkat, actor Josh Hamilton, and acorr Ben Dickey, "Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Ethan Hawke, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Alia Shawkat, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Ben Dickey, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Charlie Sexton, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Devil You Know" director Stephanie Soechtig and her four subjects
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Stephanie Soechtig, "The Devil You Know"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Hari Nef, writer-director Sam Levinson and actors Colman Domingo and Bill Skårsgard, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Bill Skårsgard, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-director Sam Levinson, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Coleman Damingo, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Helena Howard, "Madeline's Madeline"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Chris McGurk, CEO of Cinedigm
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director David Wain, actors Domhnall Gleeson, Tom Lennon, and Emmy Rossum, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Emmy Rossum, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Domhnall Gleeson, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Brad Anderson, "Beirut"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Raul Castillo, Jeremiah Zagar, Sheila Vand, and Justin Torres, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Author Justin Torres, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Sheila Vand, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Raul Castillo, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actors Maia Mitchell and Cami Marrone with writer-director Augustine Frizzell, “Never Goin’ Back”
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Cami Morrone, “Never Goin’ Back”
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Augustine Frizzell, "Never Goin' Back"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Maia Mitchell, "Never Goin' Back"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Jack Henry Robbins and producer Tim Robbins, "Painting With Joan"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Co-writer and star Franchesca Ramsey, "Franchesca"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Producer Trey Ellis, "King in the Wilderness"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actors Valter Skarsgard, Lucian Charles Collier, Sky Ferreira, Jack Kilmer, director Jonas Akerlund, Wilson Gonzalez, and Rory Culkin, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Valter Skarsgard, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Rory Culkin, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"Lords of Chaos" star Wilson Gonzalez
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director and co-writer Jonas Akerlund, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Jack Kilmer, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Joan Jett, "Bad Reputation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director and co-writer Daryl Wein, "White Rabbit"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Graham Verchere, actor Rich Sommer, co-directors Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, writers Matt Leslie and Stephen J. Smith, actress Tiera Skovbye, and actor Caleb Emery, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Caleb Emery, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Tiera Skovbye, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Luis Gerardo Mendez, "Time Share"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Matthew Lillard, "Halfway There"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Sarah Shahi, "Halfway There"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
1 of 97
Sundance 2018: Hilary Swank, Forest Whitaker and Armie Hammer among the stars shot by photographer Irvin Rivera in Park City
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
