Dallas, July 23, 2025
Photo: kickstarter.com
A new Orthodox film will be shown to audiences across the country this fall, offering what critics are calling an unprecedented cinematic experience that bridges ancient spiritual tradition with contemporary storytelling.
El Tonto Por Cristo (The Fool for Christ) has completed production and is now launching a national theatrical tour, marking the first English-language Orthodox narrative feature of its kind. The film tells the extraordinary story of Fr. John, an unlikely saint living as a holy fool in a Texas coastal monastery.
Director Josh David Jordan, whose previous film, This World Won’t Break, won 14 festival awards and achieved international acclaim, has crafted what early viewers describe as a profound meditation on holiness and humanity. The black-and-white film follows Fr. John, a monk who “couldn’t follow the rules of everyday life and, as a monk, doesn’t follow the rules of the monastery either.”
“Fr. John wears no shoes, sleeps only a few hours, and spends his days in a constant state of repentance doing prostrations or praying on a wooden chair,” according to the film’s description. “He’s not regarded as being clever or spiritual, but blessed.” The character lives as “an exposed nerve connected to the pains of this world,” miraculously taking on the suffering of those who seek his comfort.
The film has attracted significant support from prominent Orthodox figures, including content creator Jonathan Pageau, who serves as executive producer. Acclaimed director David Lowery praised it as “Tarkovsky by way of Texas,” while Orthodox writer Frederica Mathewes-Green described it as “phenomenal, truly a work of art, and utterly faithful to Orthodoxy.”
Jordan brings impressive credentials to the project. He has directed music videos for notable artists including the Polyphonic Spree and worked on projects featured on The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. His transition behind the camera proved successful when his short film Sam and Gus won several festival awards, leading to his acclaimed first feature.
Drawing from “the timeless words and tales of Eastern Orthodox saints,” the film explores how “the simplicity and the miraculous come together in a true story of the journey to sainthood.” As Fr. John’s miraculous abilities increase, he begins aging rapidly and yearns to “shed the coils of this life by setting sail beyond the ocean into the blessed realm.”
Rather than following traditional Hollywood distribution models, the creators successfully crowdfunded over $65,000 through Kickstarter, allowing them to maintain creative control while building direct connections with audiences.
“In this cultural moment, people are aching for beauty. For mystery. For something that isn’t explained to death—but lived and felt,” Jordan explained. The film is designed as “a space to sit... uninterrupted, present, participating with body, mind, and spirit.”
The theatrical tour will include major U.S. cities, with screenings expected to sell out. Beyond theaters, the project will offer digital streaming access, Blu-ray releases, and local community screenings. Supporters can still contribute through ongoing donations, and cities interested in hosting screenings are encouraged to reach out.
“This isn’t just a film. It’s a cinematic pilgrimage,” the creators emphasize.
Tour dates and tickets are available at eltontoporcristo.com, with new cities being added regularly to accommodate growing demand for this unique spiritual cinema experience.
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