The original film documentary, Jesus Loves You Where You Are: 3 Generations of Pentecostal Women, illustrates the important role that the Pentecostal church has played in an Appalachian migrant community and family, and in particular the women in that community and family. This film addresses the marked differences in religious rituals for the men vs. women of the Pentecostal church, with particular emphasis on appearance-related rituals.
The oldest woman portrayed in the film (“Goldie”) migrated with her husband from eastern Kentucky to the Dayton, Ohio area in the 1930s and has remained there to this day. Of special interest in this film is the discussion of the Pentecostal religious ritual of women never or rarely cutting their hair (i.e., “their crowning glory,” as the long hair is called by some members of the denomination). For the oldest women portrayed in this film (“Goldie”), this ritual was intrinsically based and filled with religious meaning. For Goldie’s daughter (“Hazel”) and granddaughter (“Katana”), however, this ritual was extrinsically motivated and was considered an unpleasant obligation. The film highlights the conflict faced by the two younger women in finally deciding to cut their hair, and the resulting impact of their decision on their religious beliefs and their family and church relationships.