First Reformed

An American psychological drama from 2017, written and directed by Paul Schrader. The film centers on Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke), the pastor of a small Dutch Reformed church in Snowbridge, New York. Toller, a former military chaplain, is undergoing a crisis of faith, exacerbated by personal tragedies such as the death of his son in Iraq and the dissolution of his marriage. He begins keeping a journal to candidly record his thoughts and feelings, intending to destroy it after a year. His life takes a turn after meeting parishioner Mary (Amanda Seyfried), whose husband Michael (Philip Ettinger), a radical environmentalist, is suffering from depression and plans to commit suicide due to despair over the planet's future. Following Michael's death, Toller delves deeper into contemplations about life's meaning, faith, and human responsibility for the environment. He starts to question the effectiveness of his pastoral role and considers taking radical actions. The film explores themes of existential crisis, ecology, religion, and inner human struggle, offering a profound and somber perspective on modern society and spiritual quests.