A Potpourri of Vestiges Review
By Tanmay Shukla
By Tanmay Shukla
Paul Schrader's First Reformed is a
meditative and philosophical enquiry into the constant battle between following
one’s faith and trying to keep up with the changing times. First Reformed is Paul
Schrader’s best film in many years and as an auteur he is in complete control
of the medium.
The intellectual sophistication of a First
Reformed has its roots in the passion Schrader has for his theme. He enters the
character psyche and conscience, eerily reminding us of Travis from Taxi
Driver. Ethan Hawke gives a sensational performance as Toller, the Pastor of
250 year old church.
First Reformed traces the spiritual
disintegration of Toller as he combats with the mental torment and his rapidly
deteriorating health. He is self-reflective and a heavy drinker. “A life
without despair is a life without hope” he writes. He has embarked on a spiritual
and philosophical quest before confronting the questions that plague his character,
his soul. Many will not see the ending of First Reformed coming but when Paul
Schrader is at his best we can be assured that he will pull it off. Not only
the ending, throughout the film we observe a conviction in Schrader’s treatment
of the subject.
First Reformed ruminates more than it tells
and in the end leaves us guessing, encouraging further viewing and reflection,
not to say that is not throbbing in the first. The scope of First Reformed is tremendous
and far reaching—apart from the questions on religion and modern life, there
are ethical implications and subjective, personal questions that remain unanswered.
“Courage is the solution to despair, reason provides no answers.” He not only
addresses the most difficult questions, he also addresses the immediate
questions which concern us and are no less relevant. “For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world.”
The surreal hypnotic denouement juxtaposes objective
with the subjective which is deeply personal and abstract at times. In First
Reformed it works and it’s glorious.
Rating: 8/10
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