MYSTERIOUS WAYS
New Zealand, 2023, 90 minutes, Colour.
Richard Short, Nick Afoa, Joe Malu Folau, Michael Hirst, Becky McEwen, Maureen Fepuleai.
Directed by Paul Oremland.
As in… God moves in.
This New Zealand film takes on an issue in the Anglican Communion, not only the issue of the morality of homosexual behaviour, strongly disapproved of in African countries and African Anglican dioceses, but also the issue of same-sex marriage as well as Anglican priests in gay relationships and in marriages. While some of the dialogue indicates that this is something new in the Anglican Communion, there have been several precedents in the United States for some time.
The focus is on the parish of St John’s, the priest, Peter, a widower with an adult daughter, has acknowledged his orientation and is in partnership with a man Jason, whom he encountered in prison work, the man imprisoned for eight years for armed hold-ups. He is in rehabilitation, working with a group of young people in the parish, especially their football team.
The film shows the ordinary workings of the parish, preaching, baptisms, as well as the involvement with the youth group.
The priest also appears regularly on a radio program and the interviewer has raise the issues of gay relationships, the priest’s relationship and the question of marriage, eliciting an on-air proposal. The presses had discussions with the Bishop who is partly sympathetic but very conscious of the overall views of the Anglican communion.
There are quite some emotional issues, tensions, scenes of homophobia, scenes of support of the parishioners, the arrival of the priest’s daughter and her support of her father, the arrival of Jason’s aunt up in a more fundamentalist Christian perspective and discussions about the issue and family support.
There is also the arrival of a Samoan, Billy, the tradition of Fa'afafine and fa'afatama, fluid gender roles that move between male and female worlds. He is quite a flamboyant character, supportive, exhibiting the fluidity, especially in the performance of song and movement at the end, an enthusiastic and creative interpretation of Amazing Grace.
The screenplay does not raise in any detail the theological issues, the biblical background turning teaching on homosexuality, which limits its persuasiveness for either side of the discussion. The focus, very personalised and focused on Jesus himself, is on the importance of love in human life and relationships.
The final sense of this film is that the two men want to be married, and not be married officially in the church, but, with a gathering in a church, a woman with authority to preside at weddings, joins the couple for a celebratory ending of the film.
1. The title, God’s workings? In people’s lives, in issues of sexuality, particularly in the case of homosexual relationships and same-sex marriage?
2. The New Zealand setting, the city, the church, exteriors and interiors, meetings with the bishop, the radio station studio, the youth group and meetings, the football matches, the atmosphere of the Anglican church? The musical score, songs and hymns, the final spectacular based on Amazing Grace?
3. The situation of Anglican clergy, marriage, relationships? Same-sex relationships with the clergy? Marriage? The screenplay not presenting theological arguments? Biblical arguments? The issues of the tradition of the communion? The emphasis on Jesus, pastoral outreach? Love?
4. The character of Peter, his marriage, widower, his daughter, her support? Encountering Jason, Jason and his prison sentence, robbery, coming out, the love between the two? His working with the youth group? Samoan and Christian upbringing? His relationship with his aunt, her coming, approval and disapproval, the discussions, helping with the cake, at the final celebrations, her affirmation?
5. The Bishop, the stances of the Anglican Communion, differences around the world? Personal sympathy, the discussions with Peter, his reaction to Peter’s on-air proposal, the further discussions, taking a stance?
6. The personal relationship between Peter and Jason? The bonds, the proposal in the air, Jason’s reticence, his past, listening to the radio, the decisions by the Bishop, his feeling hurt, going away, with his aunt?
7. The arrival of Billy, the Samoan tradition, the fluid gender characters, his flamboyance, costumes, cheeriness, meeting people, support? The preparation of the wedding, his creativity, in the church, Amazing Grace and his variations? Symbolism of him as an Angel, shedding the various costumes and finally angelic? His disappearance, the story of his illness, his death, the book bequeathed to Peter and Jason?
8. The homophobia, the placard outside the church, the bashing of Jason, the young man from the group, his previous attitudes and disapproval, his running away?
9. The reconciliation between Peter and Jason, apologies, in the church, the celebration, the wedding celebrant emerging, the community support, the ceremony, the happy ending?
10. The realities of the issues within the Anglican Communion? This film contributing to the awareness, to the discussions?
