A Time for Burning

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

35mm print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive

Called a “glowing beauty” by the New York Times, this seldom screened Academy-Award nominated documentary from 1967 is a landmark of the cinéma vérité movement. The idealist Lutheran pastor Rev William Yongdahl asks his all-white congregation in Omaha, Nebraska to reach out to black Lutherans. Some members of the congregation including Ray Christensen take up the cause, while others react negatively. Among the great characters in this film is the black barber Ernie Chambers who went on to become Nebraska’s longest serving state congressman. The film was originally rejected by major networks for being too controversial. Today it’s as stirring as ever.

• Year 1966
• Running Time 58 minutes
• Director Bill Jersey

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.