Theirs Is the Kingdom

Fresco paintings are unlike any other style of artwork in the world. Mention the word fresco, and images of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling might come to mind or Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. Adorning some of the world’s most cherished cathedrals and chapels, frescos are a type of artwork that is painted into the walls rather than onto them, thereby becoming a permanent fixture. But fresco paintings are rarely attempted these days, except in Asheville, North Carolina, nearly 5,000 miles from Rome.Theirs Is The Kingdom is a feature-length documentary that follows the creation of a contemporary fresco mural inside the sanctuary of small church named Haywood Street Congregation. This is a mural not of the rich or powerful – at least in society’s eyes – but of people battling poverty, addiction, and mental illness. Haywood Street sits on the northwest corner of downtown Asheville in an area dubbed the “homeless corridor.” Many know Asheville as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the South due to its award-winning restaurants and breweries, but for individuals on the margins, it’s a different story. With rising costs of living and an escalating opioid crisis, the stories of struggle in this town are universal to other municipalities around the country trying to balance tourism and commercial interests with basic human rights. But this film is not an essay on gentrification, rather, this film serves as a meditation on dignity and human worth.This film also reveals the highs and lows of the creative process with the fresco's principal artist, Christopher Holt. Due to the time, cost, and required wall space, contemporary fresco paintings are very rare. As such, this is also a story about carrying on an ancient tradition. Unlike historical fresco paintings that depict traditional religious figures or powerful political icons, this painting features individuals on the fringes of society whose stories are often marginalized and forgotten. Their stories are historically absent from large-scale paintings and portraits, art forms reserved for those who have the means to afford such a luxury. Folks like Charlie Burns, a former roofer from Mississippi, who - after a long history of homelessness - now battles stage 4 lung cancer. Or individuals like Blue, who was born and raised in Asheville and now worries about the rising costs of living. Featuring an ensemble cast of rich and complex characters, Theirs Is The Kingdom will examine the intersection of poverty and portraiture and who our society deems worthy enough to immortalize in art.As Haywood Street founder Rev. Brian Combs says, “Poverty, in so many ways, makes people feel invisible. One of the beautiful things about this fresco is that it’s going to make folks who have felt unseen and unheard their whole lives immortal.” The beauty of art is that it’s visual, accessible, and captivating. Blending that beauty with the stories of those whom society has cast aside creates a powerful film that urges viewers to examine their own judgements and beliefs.