Review for ‘‘HOLLYWOOD'S PASTOR: The H.K. Rasbach Story’’ by Darryl Haase

It is known that the volume of documentaries produced is larger every year, and with that increased access and productivity in the field, some original gems shine due to the obscure or plain interesting stories they tell. Darryl M.Haase's documentary "Hollywood's Pastor: The H. K. Rasbach Story'' achieves just that, approaching mid century Hollywood through a never-before-seen angle, through a short biography of the titular pastor's double career as film producer and lutheran pastor.

Through interviews with specialized historians and the pastor's own family, we are treated to the portrait of a kind, giving, humble person and pillar of the community, who at the same time had diverse interests and a groundbreaking and inclusive approach to his faith, in contrast to most of his contemporaries. Interested in both filmmaking and religion from a young age, the interests and fields in which H. K. Rasbach succeeded to mirror those of the documentary's director as well.

Made on a shoestring budget yet professional down to the last detail, the documentary goes by before you know it, despite its dense content and decent runtime. The music perfectly frames the emotional scenes and helps bring this impressive personality to life, especially during the presentation of pivotal events such as the adversities the pastor faced, his health issues and his unflinching support of the jewish community. Otherwise, not many technical aspects are of note or innovation, everything is however executed efficiently and cleanly.

At the end of the day, though it may not revolutionize the art of the documentary, Hollywood's Pastor tells a simple tale of a complex man, with a large social work and imprint during one of the most turbulent times in the United States' history, in one of its most dynamic and central urban centers and artistic fields. Haase's project succeeds in informing, painting an accurate portrait and setting an example for generations to come.