THE REASON
US, 2020, 83 minutes, Colour.
Louis Gossett Jr, Tatyana Ali, Beverly Todd, Kelly Carlson, Burgess Jenkins, Alan Powell, Charlie Ray Reid, Sara Antonio.
Directed by Randall Stevens.
The recurring phrase throughout this film, seen on posters and graffiti on walls is: Only Believe.
This is a very explicit faith film. It has been made for its target audience of believers, reinforcing their faith and God-commitment. It will not be persuasive for non-believers, especially for those who have some scorn for belief, critiques of God, dismissive of religion.
The film is strong in its expression of faith, of its conception of God. Louis Gossett Jr, in his 80s (Oscar winner for An Officer and a Gentleman) has appeared in quite a number of faith films over a 20 year period. Here he plays a blind pastor, managing small church. While it might be described as evangelical, there is no focus on the person of Jesus, Jesus as saviour, and minimal reference to Scriptures. The focus is on God and faith.
Central to the story is a stranger in town, Ken, played by Alan Powell. He approaches people, speaks sincerely to them, has an influence on their lives, is even able to do extraordinary things (reconstructing the huge cross outside the church which had been knocked down by lightning), understands people, is always present at crucial times.
But also atthe centre of the film is a young boy with leukaemia, a bright personality, a favourite with doctors and nurses at the hospital, especially the surgeon played by the enthusiastic and vivacious Tatyana Ali as well as the nurse with her personal problems but committed to the boy, using a Muppet-like puppet to urge him on, played by Kelly Carlson. There is a need for a bone marrow transplant.
Also at the hospital is another doctor who, it is revealed, is still grieving for the death of his daughter, and explicitly anti-God and anti-faith.
The mother approaches the father of the boy, whom she had encountered in a one night stand and not stayed with him. Ultimately, he is very sympathetic, and relates well with the boy.
The pastor slips and falls his kitchen and recovers his sight. There is story of a woman coming out of coma at the hospital. Only Believe. However, the film raises the question of accepting gifts from God with gratitude but also the question of what if present hopes are not fulfilled – the impact on the mother of the death of her son, and on the rest of the hospital staff.
There is some similarity in plot with Wish Man, also focusing on a boy with leukaemia and dying. Alan Powell, who plays the stranger, appears at the end of the film with a website advertisement for supporting children: Feedone.com It is The Reason. The screenplay is based on a book by author, William Sirls, who was written many faith-based books.
[An example of the anti-religious response, a compulsion to mock and condemn, is found in the IMDb entry:
Silly Movie
I'll take science, Alex. Yet another silly, poorly acted and poorly produced fairytale for grownups who simply cannot face the fact that there is no sky daddy.
You're cured. It was sky daddy. You're not cured. Sky daddy works in mysterious ways or had other plans.
You have to constantly brainwash and fool yourself. That's what "faith" is. Believing in silly nonsense and constantly talking yourself into it. Making you nice and malleable... And guillible. You'll believe anything. Opium for the masses! (Mehki_Girl, 15th November 2021).]
