Aubrey presented some great insight into the film Doubt (2008), but I just want to explore another aspect of the movie.
YouTube: Doubt (2008)
The YouTube clip above shows Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) confronting Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) regarding allegations that Fr Flynn has abused a student. While Sister Aloysius and Fr Flynn both make compelling statements about doubt, fear and uncertainty (as Aubrey has already discussed) during their verbal sparring, the last two minutes of the clip present another issue that has yet to be discussed: the film openly discusses the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and the perceptions of those who function within it.
Sister Aloysius' alleging that she called a nun in Fr Flynn's former parish shows a break in traditional order. Fr Flynn acknowledges this when he tells her that she should have talked to the pastor and not the nun. Their ensuing dialogue solidifies this claim:
"You have no right to act on your own," Fr Flynn shouts. "You have taken vows. Obedience, being one. You answer to us. You have no right to step outside the church!"
"I will step outside the church if that's what needs to be done," Sister Aloysius replies. "Though the doors should shut behind me, I will do what needs to be done!"
By recognizing and dismissing the fact that her "pursuit of justice" could severely damage her reputation as a nun (and her relationship with the church), Sister Aloysius openly and unashamedly challenges the church's hierarchy.
What interests me is that the film stops dealing with only the personal convictions and feelings associated with the Catholic church (faith, doubt, etc.), and starts examining the church itself (as a hierarchical structure). Thus, as an audience, it's not just the people (Sister Aloysius, Fr Flynn) that we're analyzing. It's also the Catholic church.
In Religion and Popular Culture in America, Robert J. Thompson states that religion was not a topic open for discussion on television in the past (except for Christmas, of course). Could this have been true for film as well?
If so, how would an audience in the 1960s have accepted this blatant critique of the Catholic church? How does this compare with our acceptance of it today? Lastly, how does this movie's popularity and success today reflect the changes in the media's portrayal of religion in film over the last 50 years?
For some more insight into Doubt, check out these links:
http://www.newcatholictimes.com/index.phpmodule=articles&func=display&aid=682&ptid=1
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article5561304.ece
Jessi,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I enjoyed reading it. I have never seen the movie "Doubt" but I think I will rent it soon, it looks very intriguing.
For your first question regarding our text book, I definitely think that just as T.V. shows rarely reflected religion in the past, films also rarely reflected religion. There were Christmas films involving religion, but probably not too many regular films with religion.
As such, I think a movie like "Doubt" would have not been accepted very openly 50 years ago. Perhaps a movie with a nun and priests would have been accepted, but I don't think one that so blatantly questions the hierarchy order of one of the most dominant denominations in America would have been well liked.
But over time, these things have become normal to us as a society. I think it started out slow and that's why we accept it today. Slowly, questions and concerns about religion have entered into our media, and after time they started to become normal to us.
Thanks for the post and insights!
Barbara Fuller
I really enjoyed your post as it definitely made me think about how television and movies have changed in the last 50 years.
ReplyDeleteAs I was watching the clip you provided, I was thinking about why this movie was such a hit with our generation. Why would this NOT work 40 or 50 years ago? Why was there no vocal objection, from what I could find, from the Catholic church? Perhaps this is because we are so used to hearing and reading about the Catholic church, more specifically their priests, being involved in scandals.
But as you mentioned, the movie steers away from attacking individuals, and moves more into an examination of the actual church organization itself. This is definitely not something that would succeed in the past as religion, and the values that came along with worship, were taken more seriously.
I wonder though...what if the movie covered the structure of the LDS church and dove into a fictional problem within the hierarchical makeup of the church? Would it have been as successful? Perhaps this suggests that religion in the media today is still approached with caution...but why?
I personally don't feel that subtle portrayals of religion is a problem in society today. We see it all the time in shows and movies with hidden symbolism, and humble hints...but you have to look for it. Religion today is a problem when it is forced on an individual. No one wants to be preached to when they are simply trying to relax and be entertained. No one wants to have things, specifically religion forced upon them. This movie never once forced Catholicism on its viewers, but if it did, I believe the movie would have flopped.
Moving on...
I agree with Barbara in that societies' values have crumbled over time resulting in what we see on television today. We never saw shows portraying a bi-sexual girl looking for love 10, or even 5 years ago...but yet in 2007, Shot of Love aired successfully enough to result in a sequel coming up in 2009.
Where are the values in that show? Where are the television series showing families enjoying dinner together? Where are the nonviolent, entertaining, wholesome shows that are now rarely even play on Nick At Night during the summer? If anything, this post is a testimony of how we view religion as a society, and where our values have gone. Thanks!
Eric Zeugschmidt
I really enjoyed the film Doubt. I liked it because it made the leaders of the church seem human instead of robotic and naive. I am a big proponent of discussing all sides of an issue and like how the film (which was based on a play) raises a lot of questions about the structure of the Catholic Church. It does a brilliant job of getting the viewer to really think.
ReplyDeleteIf this film had come out 40 years ago it would have gotten much more attention and caused much more controversy. I think this is because our society has progressed to the point where there is so much media that more sides of issues get brought up and discussed.
Even if something is brought up that is not favorable, it gets discussion happening. There are so many different media outlets to express opinions and facts that most sides of the stories get covered in some aspect these days.
I hope we have more films that invite viewers to really think and question.