Devotion: Obedience & Betrayal

It is one of the world’s most controversial Christian communities. Bound by a strict adherence to the Bible and the will of God, Gloriavale has spent 50 years shielded from outside scrutiny.

Now, for the first time in more than a decade, the community has let TV cameras inside. With unprecedented access and more than 50 years of extraordinary archival footage, Devotion: Obedience & Betrayal enters a world rarely seen from within, capturing daily life while uncovering how the community was built and how its power endured. Inside, members speak of faith, belonging, and resilience against accusations that they are a cult.

Outside, former members describe repression, family rupture, abuse and the emotional cost of life inside the system. As the community fights for its way of life and court cases threaten their future, Devotion: Obedience & Betrayal lets the viewer decide.

Executive Producer: Dame Julie Christie

Director: Nicole Rittenmeyer