THE SHACK

US, 2017, 132 minutes, Colour.
Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer, Tim Mc Graw, Radha Mitchell, Megan Charpentier, Gage Munroe, Amelie Eve, Avraham Aviv Alush, Sumire Matsubara, Alice Braga, Graham Greene.
Directed by Stuart Hazeldine.

An important warning: if an audience is not prepared to spend two hours reflecting on God, imagining God, challenging God about evil and suffering, whether the audience consists of believers or non-believers, then better to stay away. This is definitely a film about God.

The Shack was a religious bestseller and is now brought to the screen in the tradition of the faith-based films. As has been said, there is quite a deal of explicit religious talk and imagery, not necessarily persuasive for every culture because this is quite American and may not appeal to other sensibilities. However, in the spirit of openness, there is a great deal to commend in The Shack.

It has a basically significant narrative, an introduction to the central character, Mack (Sam Worthington) who is treated harshly by his alcoholic father, also an elder in the church. This means that Mack does not have a genial image of God as Father. However, he marries Nan (Radha Mitchell) and they have three children. They attend the local evangelical church, and are encouraged by a friendly neighbour, Will (Tim Mc Graw – also supplies some of the songs for the background).

There is a rather harrowing flashback while Mack is clearing snow from the front of the house, slips and falls on his head and loses consciousness. He remembers the family going on a picnic and, in the middle of a happy event, the youngest daughter, Missy, is abducted. This has an even worse effect on Mack and his anger, resentments, attitude towards God.

This is where the screenplay runs the risk of being too twee but also dares itself to make good images explicit.

Mack finds in his letterbox a typed message from God, signed Papa (one of the twee aspects that might be a bit offputting). Mack is invited to go back to the shack where they previously searched for Missy. Borrowing Will’s truck and leaving him stranded, Mack heads off to the mountains, to the wintry shack, taking a gun.

And this is where the film begins its quite significant surprises. Mack is led from the winter into a beautiful summer landscape, flowers and gardens, a lake, a comfortable house. The audience has previously seen Octavia Spencer give the young Mack a slice of pie but here she is, admitting to Mack when he asks that she is I Am. The man who has led Mack is, in fact, Jesus himself and the woman who appears is the Spirit. Interestingly, God is maternal, and African-American? woman, Jesus is played by an Israeli actor and the Spirit is played by Japanese actor.

Later, Mack will be led to a cave to an experience with Wisdom, played by Brazilian actress, colours broker, and a further journey for him to test his capacity for forgiveness, where I Am is played by a Native American Indian, Graham Greene. (So, the Everyman in need of conversion is an American white male – though he is played by an Australian as is Nan, his wife).

As has been mentioned, the challenge of the film is to imagine the Trinity in human form, I Am as creator and sustainer, a jovial and genial Jesus (including walking on water and Mack and Jesus sprinting on water), and a dignified Spirit-figure who is creative in her garden.

But the screenplay also incorporates many of the issues which test those who question cultural in human suffering. Some prefer a more philosophical/theological discussion about the nature of God. Here, it is conversation, in human terms, where God is able to talk about being so preoccupied with pain that vision of hope is lost, that God shares in the grief and pain, and is desperate to be with people in suffering. In an interesting touch, the wound of the nail is seen in the wrist of cab I Am. (God has experienced suffering through Jesus’ passion.)

Mack’s experience can be seen as a spiritual journey, dark nights, glimpses of God, the holy, and experience of spiritual direction. And, in the vein of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation, the message is that violence and cruelty cannot be excused but they can be forgiven.

This is the kind of faith-based film that serves as a confirming of faith rather than a proselytising experience.

1. The impact of the film as faith-based? Specifically Christian? Evangelical? The theology and spirituality of the Trinity? Theological and philosophical issues of God?

2. The popularity of the novel, the bestseller list? The adaptation? Narrative, themes, faith, sadness and suffering, God as cruel? Issues of the nature of God? The personification of the persons of the Trinity? Religious experience, spiritual direction? Conversion?

3. An American story, the countryside, the towns, homes, beauty of the scenery, the falls and the lake, the mountains? Winter and the drive? The transition from winter into summer, the beauty, the flowers and vegetation, the lake? An earthly paradise?

4. The tone of the score, religious and emotional? The range of hymns?

5. The narrative, Will and his voice-over, his friendship with Mack, his description of Mack? Will as a character, friend, discussions, presence in church, sharing the tragedy with Missy? Lending his truck, prepared to go, being left behind? Seeing Mack in the hospital, the bond?

6. The flashbacks to Mack as a boy, the severe father, the beatings, his being an elder in the church, the mother suffering, his drinking? Bashing his wife? The neighbour
offering Mack the piece of pie – and the later appearance as God? Mack and the strychnine preparation, real or imagined? Mack and his bitterness? Since?

7. Mack as an adult, the image of God as severe father, the use of Papa? His marriage, love for Nan, 17 years, the children, his life and work, the outings, going fishing, the children on the boat, Katie showing off, the capsize credits, swimming to rescue Josh, Missy and her disappearance after the vitality and colouring? The impact on him, everybody helping search, Nan’s arrival, the police? Not able to find the abductor? Blame?

8. The aftermath, his bitterness, Josh and his avoiding telling the truth to his father, Katie and her being sullen? Nan and her concern? Mack, clearing the snow, falling, hitting his head, the memories of the tragedy?

9. The note in the post box, his enquiring at the office, his decision to go, discussions with Will, the truck, preparing, the gun? Taking off, alone? Almost crashing with the truck, his preoccupation?

10. The shack, in the past, the visit, Missy’s dress? Now empty, the deer at the door, his agitation, gun?

11. Sensing the stranger in the forest, the encounter with Jesus, being led into the paradise scene? The introduction to I Am as African- American mother? Jesus, his age, appearance, clothes, genial? The presence of the Spirit, the Japanese woman? Images of the Trinity?

12. The effect on Mack, his disbelief, not trusting? Wondering whether to leave? Enjoying the meal? The encounter with God as genial, maternal, loving? Jesus in the shop, the workman, chatting, the boat in the black water, walking on the water, running with Jesus on the water? The invitation of the Spirit, the garden and its beauty, the transformation? God is parent, equal, inspiring breath?

13. Mack and Jesus taking him to visit Wisdom? The dark, the cave, the judgement seat? The personification of wisdom, female, with a sense of gravity and presence? Not to be judged but to judge? Wisdom’s challenge, Mack as judging everyone, appearances? The presence of his children, Wisdom asking to make a choice about hell? His inability to do this – and experiencing God’s dilemma?

14. Theological and philosophical reflections, God as creator, Jesus as Redeemer? The creator setting the world in motion, human freedom, human evil? Love and being hurt? God being hurt? God with the wound and scars of the nail on the wrist? God knowing suffering through Jesus, sharing human suffering? The preoccupation with pain and losing sight of anything beyond its meaning and hope? Illustrating God’s choices, being there with people in pain, sharing it, helping people through it?

15. The quest for forgiveness, the new incarnation of God, the Native American Indian? The journey, Mack realising he had to forgive, his inability? God saying that the crime could not be excused but the sinner forgiven? Mack’s effort, forgiveness? Reconciliation as possible?

16. The effect on Mack, being with God, God knowing, loving, present and sharing?

17. The experience of faith, talking to God, with God, human tones, hearing God’s voice, sense of God’s presence with human imagery?

18. The crash, Mack in hospital, the time with Nan, with each of the children, the reconciliation?

19. The film showing the credibility of religious experience? American religious experience – some different sensibilities for others from different cultures? Yet a core experience of the experience of God?