Film Overview

SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story explores the clean-cut, smiledrenched
singing phenomenon Up With People. Since 1965, this peppy youth group has
sung to 20 million people worldwide, performed at four Superbowl halftime shows, and
been parodied on The Simpsons and South Park. Talent was not required of its
members, just a common enthusiastic vision to change the world one squeaky-clean
song at a time. But its cheery façade concealed the more complicated reality of an
organization founded on conservative American ideals and cult-like utopian ideology.

Up With People was born in response to the liberal counter-culture of the ‘60s by the
ultra-conservative religious sect, Moral ReArmament. Over the years, they were
embraced by world leaders from US Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush to King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Noor of Jordon and Pope John Paul II. The
organization’s access to global dignitaries and developing countries was noticed by
corporate giants---like GM, Exxon, Halliburton and Searle---who gave millions of dollars
to back the popular group.

Artistically cut with kitschy and never-before-seen archival footage, and the honest
reflections of former members, SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story
reveals what can happen when ideology, money and groupthink converge to co-opt
youthful idealism.