year’s most compelling film.
The act of terrorism Toller plans
will take human lives, but also
destroy his church if executed
correctly, and it’s this element
that makes me wonder if Schrad-
er’s film is a confessional about
the doubt and despair that af-
flicts every writer. With less than
a handful of parishioners at-
tending his church each Sunday,
will Toller and his little church
be missed? Through the figure
of Mary (I’m no theologian, but
I’m pretty sure Schrader didn’t
pick that name out of a hat),
Schrader makes it clear that at
least one person will miss Toller.
As a writer, knowing you have
an audience is what keeps you
from chucking your laptop out
the window, and as First Re-
formed ultimately displays, if one
person might miss your words,
it’s worth continuing to write
them. The contemporary audi-
ence for Schrader’s work may
be a fraction of that of his ‘70s
prime, but his words still affect
us, perhaps now more than ever.
As long as he keeps penning ser-
mons, we’ll keep listening. w
First Reformed
4 ½ stars out of 5
Directed by: Paul Schrader
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 46
Starring: Amanda Seyfried,
Ethan Hawke, Cedrick Kyles
Michael Gaston
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