In this cinema-verite documentary, a teenage youth group called Thumbs Down, decides “to bring Christ to their neighborhood” by holding an anti-war Mass at their conservative Chicago parish. Neither militants nor hippies, they simply believe that Christianity means social action and concern with issues. They present this belief to the community and the confrontation reveals the deepening crisis of communication between the young Christians and their parents, priest, and neighbors.
102 minutes
Kartemquin participates in 1968 Retrospective
August 5, 2008
Three Kartemquin films will be featured in Facets’ 40 Years After: Filming the ‘68 Revolution retrospective taking place in Chicago August 22-28. Hum 255, Trick Bag and Thumbs Down will all screen over the course of the week. Get the details.
- Executive Producers
- Vaile Scott
- Louis Marrone
- Producers
- Gerald Temaner
- Gordon Quinn
- Directors
- Gerald Temaner
- Gordon Quinn
“Thumbs Down offers a great deal of understanding about the nature of a neighborhood that is often talked about in the most oversimplified way… Temaner and Quinn are filmmakers and ‘inquiring reporters’ with great insight, and they have a lot to tell us about ourselves.”
—Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times