The three-part documentary Escaping Utopia takes an unflinching look at the secretive and controversial Gloriavale Christian community, which has long been shrouded in allegations of abuse, manipulation, and exploitation. Founded in 1969 by Neville Cooper—who later renamed himself Hopeful Christian—the sect operates on extreme patriarchal principles, with men holding absolute authority over women and children. The community’s strict, isolating rules govern every aspect of life, from marriage and reproduction to personal behavior.
The documentary unveils the chilling dynamics of Gloriavale, where women are required to submit to male authority and live under oppressive restrictions, such as wearing uniform dresses that expose only their hands and faces. Women are married off at a young age and expected to have large families, while their lives are dominated by the constant fear of damnation. Young people are forbidden from conversing with those of the opposite sex after puberty, and strict controls are placed on the community’s every action.
Over three episodes, Escaping Utopia presents the harrowing stories of former members who managed to escape the community. These individuals, some of whom are children of Hopeful Christian, share their painful experiences of exile and separation from family and friends. Many now belong to a semi-underground network that helps others flee the compound. The series also explores the Indian outpost set up by Hopeful Christian as a backup refuge when authorities began scrutinizing the original Gloriavale operation. There, viewers witness the fearful lives of women and children trapped under authoritarian rule, with one leader candidly discussing the normalization of rape within the community.
The documentary goes on to examine a groundbreaking 2023 employment case filed by former female members of Gloriavale, who argued that their forced labor, including cooking and laundry duties, amounted to slavery rather than voluntary service. The case underscores the exploitation within the group, with former members describing the mental and emotional toll the community’s rules took on them.
The series also highlights the ongoing investigations into pervasive sexual abuse within Gloriavale, which gained public attention in the 1990s thanks to journalist Melanie Reid. Since then, numerous claims, charges, and convictions have emerged, though accountability for the cult’s leaders remains inconsistent. Former members share heart-wrenching stories of their traumatic childhoods, with some revealing the deeply disturbing practices that were forced upon them, including the traumatic act of watching their parents in intimate moments as a form of “education” about sex.
More than just a recounting of events, Escaping Utopia delves into the psychological scars left by life in the sect. It explores the pervasive fear instilled in the members, particularly the anxiety that arose from the belief that being “unworthy” could lead to eternal damnation. One former member, Sharon Ready, who has been part of the community for over 50 years, grapples with the trauma of sexual abuse and the slow erosion of her identity through coercion and manipulation.
In its exploration of cult survival and the mechanisms of control, Escaping Utopia offers a compassionate yet damning portrait of the lives destroyed by Gloriavale’s authoritarian rule. The documentary serves as a searing critique of the cult’s leadership, shedding light on the enduring suffering inflicted in the name of faith.
The series aired on BBC Two and is available for streaming on iPlayer in the UK and ABC iview in Australia.
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