Stocking (Un)Stuffer

The new documentary, What Would Jesus Buy? -which opens this Friday at the Cineplex Odeon DuPont Circle - not only rejects the commercialization of the holidays, but encourages those who do shop to "be conscientious consumers and consider where your products are made, rather than merely seeking out the best bargain," reports the International Labor Rights Forum. As Charles Kernaghan, Director of the National Labor Committee, notes in the film, "If companies are allowed to pit the American worker against desperately poor people in the developing world that don't have the right to organize, who don't have any form of democracy at all, you can't compete against slave labor." What Would Jesus Buy? - directed by Ron VanAlkemade  -- takes a hard look at the commercialization of Christmas, globalization and the plight of the American worker, through the eyes of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. When activist/performer Bill Talen - who will appear in person at Saturday night's 7:15 show -- transforms into "Reverend Billy," he and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir liven up the debate about over-consumption, waste and the harmful practices of mega-retailers in America. Their call to "stop shopping" is just to get people's attention; the goal is to encourage Americans to think before they consume and to consider the origins of the "stuff" they're buying. Click here to watch the trailer and download the choir's subversive song lyrics; groups can get cheap tickets by calling 877-447-4670.