POSTIA PAPPI JAAKOBILLE (LETTERS TO FATHER JAAKOB)

Finland, 2009, 74 minutes, Colour.
Kaarina Hazard, Heikki Nousiainen, Jukka Keinonen.
Directed by Klaus Haro.

If you would like to see a finely sensitive film that explores the mercy and love of God, then Letters to Father Jacob, a SIGNIS award winning film at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2010, can be recommended.

The plot of this short film (75 minutes) is quite simple. We are introduced to a morose and taciturn prisoner, Leila, who is offered a placement, working with Pastor Jacob. She is resentful. We do not know what her crime has been. But, we do know that she is unable to accept human or divine mercy.

Pastor Jacob is an old blind priest living in retirement in a ramshackle house in the countryside. He has requested Leila as he has a ministry of answering letters from the large number of people who write to him. Leila reads impassively and gets about ordinary duties in the house with a silent sullenness.

It is we the audience rather than Leila (though we know that ultimately her reading the letters and listening to Pastor Jacob will touch her but in ways we don’t quite anticipate) who listen attentively to Jacob’s answers. It is the language of a God of love and mercy, a God of grace, spoken directly and with warmth and feeling – with time and space for some meditative reflection. We hear of several cases (which Jacob immediately recognises when he hears the letters), a man oppressed by teachers, a woman to whom he had given his money so that she could move away from her violently abusive husband.

Audiences will be moved by Leila’s final response to Pastor Jacob and appreciate the human need for deep communication and truth.

It is still possible to make a fine film on explicitly religious themes.

1. The impact of the film? Humane? Religious?

2. The Finland setting, Finnish perspective? Scandinavian perspective?

3. The country setting, the house, the interiors, the exteriors, the grounds, the forest, the road? Authentic feel? The contrast with the prison and its enclosure?

4. Leila, in prison, her age, her appearance, the interview, her keeping silent, not wanting mercy, hard and stubborn? The mystery of the reason for her imprisonment?

5. The job, the authorities, placing Leila with Pastor Jaakob, her reluctance, arrival, meeting the pastor, her response, wanting to be there for a short time?

6. Jaakob and his having requested Leila to come? The reason revealed at the end? His age, his work, his skills as a pastor, blind? Living in neglect? The issue of mercy? The number of letters written to him?

7. Leila, reading the letters, sceptical, the effect on her, the postman and his delivery, hostility? His return, his approach to Leila, her warding him off?

8. The letters and the situations, the wide range, the student thanking Father Jaakob, sending the donation? Jaakob knowing the life situations and his appropriate responses? A ministry?

9. The gifts of money, not expecting money to be given, Leila counting the money?

10. Leila, her exasperation, throwing the letters into the fire, trying to get them back?

11. The theology and spirituality underlying the film, images of God, understanding of God, love and mercy, forgiveness, encouragement and grace?

12. The effect on Leila, the false letter, owning the letter? Jaakob knowing? The truth about her sister’s letters to Father Jaakob, Leila and the murder?

13. The sister’s letters, the sister and her loneliness?

14. Jaakob, his collapse and dying? Mission, achievement? Prayer? Leila and her future?