Smithy: The John Smith Story

"John Smith's wild ride from conservative preacher's kid to radical Australian Christian, God's Squad founder, social justice campaigner and revolutionary church leader is fascinatingly told in Don Parham's excellent film. This is an objective warts-and-all view biography, not a self-serving hagiography. It covers the important parts in the story, including the rise of Smithy's Truth and Liberation church, his bitter split from it a few years later and his battle with cancer. Provocative and challenging, the film doesn't pull punches. John sometimes made his listeners - and other Christian leaders - uncomfortable. He spoke of authentic blood-and-guts Christianity rather than offering theological soundbites about a sanitised Jesus. This non-conformist inspired and changed the lives of thousands. He made a real difference. SMITHY is an honest and fitting essay on the life of one of Australia's most influential and interesting Christian communicators."

TIM COSTELLO, AO

CEO, World Vision Australia