SAVIOR COMPLEX chronicles the controversial story surrounding Renee Bach, a young American missionary who felt called by God to set up a charity for malnourished children in Jinja, Uganda. But years later, shocking allegations arose that Renee was treating the sick children herself, without medical qualifications. Detailing Renee’s divisive journey, the series addresses the wider questions around “white saviorism” and the ethics of foreign aid work done in the name of humanitarian and religious ideals.
At the age of 19, Renee, a Virginia homeschooled high school graduate and Evangelical missionary founded Serving His Children (SHC), an organization to help feed and care for malnourished children in Uganda. Amid whistleblower accusations that Renee was treating the sick children herself with no medical qualifications, a social media activist group called No White Saviors starts to draw public attention to the situation, calling Renee the “Angel of Death” and a “poster child for neocolonialism.” With Renee denying the accusations and claiming that her work was guided by God and helped save hundreds of lives, SAVIOR COMPLEX takes a close look at the thorny complexities of missionary work when local facilities are underfunded, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) fill the gap to provide resources in developing countries. With extraordinary access to Renee, her accusers, lawyers, activists, and mothers who seek to hold her accountable, the series addresses the timely and provocative issues at the intersection of religion, race, and power.
The HBO Original three-part docuseries SAVIOR COMPLEX from Emmy-winning filmmaker Jackie Jesko, executive produced by Nick Capote, Alex Waterfield, and Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams (HBO’s “Love to Love You, Donna Summer,” “God Loves Uganda”) debuts TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO followed by episodes two and three airing Wednesday, September 27 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. All three episodes will be available to stream on Max beginning September 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
