Death & Resurrection

There are so many different trains of thought (though all pointing in a certain direction), it is hard to sit and think of where to begin with a review or reflection of the film. Also, it is fascinating (but unfortunate) to see so many parallels almost thirty years later. Cell phones, for one. Facebook for another. But those are still just another kind of electric blanket, separating us from reality, separating us from one another, lulling us into a deep trance. Is communication with another person “real”, if we can’t look them in the eyes? Is it real if we can’t touch them?

How much time is spent with machines, rather than with people? Which one do we prefer?

I have to say though, that the centerpiece of the film for me is the “death and resurrection” scenario, so well detailed and articulated by Andre. Even just listening and imagining presents a certain kind of confrontation with death and the celebration of life, possibly unparalleled by anything i have ever “seen” in a film or experienced in life. It is the kind of thing that the season of Lent is supposed to be about – a journey that brings us back to reality, so we can touch our humanity, engage our spirituality, confront our death and our fear, and with the blooming Magnolias and Dogwoods, become colorful and alive. it is a most necessary experience for us in the First World, in the Western World! Most Necessary. Otherwise, we are both the prisoners and the guards of our unseen prison.