First Reformed

Faith Reformed is an agonizingly slow, yet intellectually , captivating film from director Paul Schrader, with Ethan Hawke in the starring role. What is the promise of Christ? Is it the promise of the church--of victory, of peace, of riches, of an abundant life in a fallen world? What, in fact, differentiates the church from the world, other than a handful of fastidious taboos? No, the promise of Christ is persecution, suffering, crucifixion, and, finally, transcendent love. The filming here is sharp and spare, rarely punctuated by sound or color or unmeasured movement. It proceeds from beginning to end in a dark, heavy robe, just like the one worn by the pastor in the central role. And beneath the robe of pretense and ceremony is blood and torment and death--and, incidentally, freedom.