First Reformed

Dir: Paul Schrader

2018

****

Paul Schrader is a master of cinema, having written masterpieces such as The Yakuza, Taxi Driver, Hardcore, American Gigolo, Raging Bull, The Mosquito Coast, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead as well as directing brilliant films such as Blue Collar and Patty Hearst. However, after a couple of decades of disappointing films that are a far cry from his earlier work, I honestly thought we’d seen the last true masterpiece he had to offer. First Reformed corrected me in spectacular fashion. The film focuses on Reverend Ernst Toller (the brilliant Ethan Hawke) of the First Reformed Church in Snowbridge, New York. Hawke narrates the film and explains early on that his character is writing down his thoughts in a journal for a year, after which he intends to destroy it. The a 250-year-old Church, faces dwindling attendance under Toller's leadership, which has taken the church in a new direction and away from its historical focus on Reformed theology. In trying to manage his own life issues, Toller seeks a deeper experience through reading Roman Catholic (Thomas Merton and G.K. Chesterton) and mystical books (The Cloud of Unknowing). This new spiritual direction leads him to seek support from a nearby charismatic megachurch, Abundant Life, which owns the historical landmark, and previous stop on the Underground Railroad. Toller, a former military chaplain, is struggling with the death of his son Joseph, who was killed in the Iraq War after Toller encouraged him to enlist in the armed forces. He meets Mary (Amanda Seyfried), who is seeking counseling for her radical-environmentalist husband, Michael, which further challenges his beliefs. Michael explains that he wants Mary to get an abortion, because he does not want to bring a child into a world that will be rendered almost uninhabitable by climate change. Things take an unexpected turn when Mary finds a suicide vest belonging to her husband in their garage. Toller takes it, promising to counsel Michael about it. Mary and Toller discuss going to the police, but Toller feels it would dramatically worsen Michael's state. Just before their next appointment, Michael sends Toller a text message asking to meet in a local park but Toller arrives to find Michael dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound. This scene cemented my suspicions that the Schrader I loved was back in business. Following Michael's will and testament, his ashes are scattered in a service at a local toxic-waste dump. Meanwhile, plans are underway to celebrate the sestercentennial of First Reformed with a service attended by the mayor, governor, and a notable industrialist, Edward Balq, who sponsors Abundant Life. At a diner meeting, Toller argues with Balq over climate change, which Balq dismisses as "complicated", but Toller sees it as a straightforward matter of Christian stewardship. Experiencing various physical pains, Toller reluctantly sees a doctor, who suspects stomach cancer and schedules tests. Using Michael's laptop, which he took after his suicide to prevent the police discovering his radicalism and making trouble for Mary, Toller researches Michael's concerns further, including the materials which inspired him to make the explosive vest. One night, Mary visits Toller in the parsonage of the church, and he plays Michael's role in a nonsexual rite of physical intimacy that the couple used to perform. Toller begs Mary not to attend the anniversary service. Preparing for his role in the ceremony, he puts on the explosive vest, and arms it. Seeing that Mary has in fact come to the service, he removes the vest and instead wraps himself in barbed wire under his vestment robe, and prepares to drink a lethal dose of drain cleaner. Mary interrupts him, and they embrace, kissing passionately. The film is performed beautifully and with passion from the cast and the visuals are exquisite. I’m still not sure about the 1.37 : 1 aspect ratio and how great an effect it had on the overall piece. There were times went I thought the claustrophobic restriction had its benefits but by and large I think it would have looked even more glourius in widescreen. Schrader admitted that he was searching for his inner Ingmar Bergman/Robert Bresson/Andrei Tarkovsky and that much is clear in subject as well as in the visuals, but Reverend Ernst Toller is entirely the work of his own. Rev Toller is the new Travis Bickle. You don’t need to be a follower (or former follower) of the Protestant Reformation or need to know too much about Calvinism to get the overall idea but it I think it would probably help. I wouldn’t say the film is critical of Protestant (or any form of) Christianity or religion in general, I would say it was more a question of morals and ethics. That said, it does take a justified swipe at the modern workings of the Church, suggesting that if the church can update itself from a economical viewpoint, then surely it can also do so in other areas – environmental issues being the key subject here. It has been a while since a film has challenged its audience in this way and it is a long time coming. It is an incredible film and what an ending.