MASS

US, 2021, 111 minutes, Colour.

Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Ann Dowd, Reed Birney.

Directed by Fran Kranz.

Mass was on the list of nominations for awards from the US-based International Association of Catholic Critics. It received excellent reviews but seems to have had limited distribution outside the United States, finally being chosen for screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

We need to understand the title, Mass, Catholic redemptive tones, forgiveness and atonement. Then it was pointed out, “Mass” murder. The story is of that all too frequent American occurrence, school, students and teachers, gun massacres.

The focus of the screenplay is quite confined but making the drama and intense dialogue (without any visual flashbacks) all the more powerful and disturbing. And, the setting for the meeting is a room adjacent to a church.

While there are a few incidental characters, those working at the church where the meeting is about to be held, the focus is strongly on the two sets of parents, with expert performances by Jason Isaacs (interesting casting of an Englishman in such an American role), Martha Plimpton as his wife. Very persuasive it is and Dowd as the mother of the shooter, contrasting with the rather reserved, heady manner and considerations of her husband, Reed Birney. Their performances are so powerful, relying on dialogue in close-up, that it would be interesting to see a stage version of Mass.

The audience is asked to spend time (and emotions) as the parents of the dead boys sit with the parents of the student shooter. Truth and Reconciliation is not achieved instantly and has been in progress before this meeting. The four parents have permission to vent their distress and grief, loss of their sons, the mystery of being the parents of the disturbed shooter being blamed by association. A tribute to writer and director, Fran Kranz) and cast, each with their dramatic outbursts, their quiet moments, the clash between mind and heart, and the final sentiment in so many of these stories: “I can’t forgive yet. Give me some time and I will try”.

1. The title, religious? The meaning of the Christian Mass? The reference to mass murder?
2. Middle American setting, filmed in Idaho, glimpses of the town, exteriors of the church, the fields on the fence with the ribbon, the interiors of the church, the rectory, the room for the meeting? The musical score?
3. The introduction, Judy, housekeeper, sitting in the church, the shopping, Anthony and his work, keeping the house, the preparation for the Sunday liturgy, pages, the choir? The church and the student learning the piano?
4. The coordinator, her arrival, the plan, booking, the room, rearranging the chairs, tea and coffee, conversation with Judy?
5. The arrival of Jay and Gail, her hesitance, driving away, the return, going into the room? Tentative? The arrival of Linda and Richard, coming into the room, the chairs?
6. The situation, Gail and Jay and their dead son, in the school? Age? Grief? Linda and Richard, their son, killing, the number of dead? Their experience of attack, issues of law, the interactions with Gail and Jay? The baggage each couple was bringing to the meeting? Yet their willingness to come?
7. Grief of the parents of dead victims? The question of the responsibility of the parents of the killer? Gail and Jay and their probing of Richard and Linda on these issues, making demands that they speak? The effect on Richard, on Linda? The tentative opening, the exchange of photos, the gift of the flowers, Hayden and his jar for the snails, creating forest? The tension, willingness to speak? Willingness to listen?
8. Jay, marriage to Gail, the many years, their daughter, growing up, University and dating? The loss of their son? The aftermath, court cases, media, legal issues? The toll on Jay, emotional, interactions with Gail? His importance scene, his grief, making demands on Richard, reacting to Richard’s objectivity? The question of blame? Anger? Subsiding? Listening to the stories? His own story about his son? Becoming more calm?
9. Gail, tentative, practical, the flowers, the exchange of photos? Her presuppositions in condemning Richard and Linda as parents? The continual probing of their upbringing of their son? Her outbursts, having to move away from the table, Linda urging her to tell a story, the story of the football, mud and dirt, the best footballers? Her anger at the time, laughing? The importance of the story?
10. Richard, businesslike, objective, not manifesting emotions? Audience prejudice against those who do not display emotions? The issue of blame, responsibility? His going over his son’s life, the various stages, the problems, facing them or not, bullying at school, his behaviour at home, the computer games? Facing the reality of what he had done? Issues of blame, responsibility? Moving his chair, bringing the tissue to Gail as she told the story?
11. Linda, a focus for the audience, pleasant personality, the gift of the flowers, appreciating the photos, producing the jar with the pictures, snails? Her going over the situation, the explanation of her son growing up, the unexpected child, Richard and his devotion, love for the child, the problems, isolating, his room, the computer games? At school, better grades, yet the bullying? His friends? Her puzzle as to what she could have done? Handling the situation afterwards, letters attacking, letters of support? Her coming back and telling the story of her son’s anger, their shouting at each other, his wanting to hit her, and her regret that she should have let him do that, to vent his anger?
12. The audience response to the dialogue, the power of words, powerful words, emotions, evoking stories, images, issues?
13. Restorative justice, the nature of meetings, everybody able to speak, outbursts yet respect, the ultimate effect, purgative, cathartic?
14. The aftermath, the couples calmer, the flowers in the box, Judy and her fussing, Anthony, his help? Richard wanting to leave, Linda following, her return in the story, embracing Gail? Her going quietly? Jay and Gail together, the flowers, the choir rehearsing for Sunday, listening to the music? The couple able to leave?
15. The emotional effect of participating in such a session? And for the audience?