First Reformed (2017)
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A grieving minister in upstate New York faces a spiritual and moral crisis as he grapples with a parishioner's radical environmentalism and a looming tragedy.
The story
Reverend Ernst Toller leads First Reformed Church in Snowbridge, New York, a 250-year-old Dutch Reformed Church that faces dwindling attendance. Struggling with alcoholism, health issues, and the death of his son in the Iraq War, Toller seeks new spiritual direction by reading Catholic writings and seeking support from a nearby charismatic megachurch. His life is further complicated when he begins counseling Mary Mensana, a pregnant woman whose radical-environmentalist husband, Michael, expresses extreme despair over climate change. When Mary discovers a suicide vest belonging to Michael, Toller takes it, promising to counsel the man about his radical actions.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Reverend Ernst Toller leads a struggling Dutch Reformed Church in Snowbridge, New York, which has become a tourist attraction. While dealing with alcoholism and the grief of losing his son in the Iraq War, Toller turns to Catholic writings and seeks help from a charismatic megachurch. He begins counseling Mary Mensana, whose husband Michael is a radical environmentalist who wants Mary to abort her pregnancy due to climate change. After Mary finds Michael's suicide vest, Toller takes it to counsel him, but Michael commits suicide by gunshot in a local park. Toller attends the memorial service at a toxic-waste dump and later argues with industrialist Edward Balq about climate change. While undergoing tests for suspected stomach cancer, Toller researches Michael's radicalism on his laptop. He eventually performs a nonsexual rite of intimacy with Mary. In a final act of despair, Toller prepares for a church anniversary service by arming the suicide vest, but when Mary enters, he removes the vest, wraps himself in barbed wire, and attempts to drink chemical drain cleaner before they embrace.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul Schrader
- Writers
- Paul Schrader · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ethan Hawke · Reverend Ernst Toller; Amanda Seyfried · Mary Mensana; Cedric Kyles · Michael; Victoria Hill; Philip Ettinger
- Genres
- psychological drama; psychological thriller
- Themes
- existential woe; climate change; Christian stewardship; alcoholism; grief; spiritual crisis
- Tone and mood
- austere; restrained; searing; bracing
- Premise and plot tags
- eco-terrorism; pregnancy; cancer; suicide; Christianity
- Content notes
- alcoholism; suicide; abortion
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who mostly praised Hawke's performance and Schrader's direction and writing. It was selected as one of the top ten films of 2018 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 86 · scale: 100 · review count: 48
- Awards and nominations
- Best Screenplay · Gotham Independent Film Awards · win; Best Original Screenplay · National Board of Review · win; Best Male Lead · Independent Spirit Awards · win; Best Original Screenplay · Academy Awards · nomination; Best Film · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination; Best Director · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination; Best Screenplay · Independent Spirit Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot around Brooklyn and Queens, New York, including the building and grounds of the Zion Episcopal Church in Douglaston.; Schrader was inspired to shoot in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio by Paweł Pawlikowski's film Ida (2013).; The lead character's name is an allusion to the German playwright Ernst Toller.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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