First Reformed (2017)

A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns and a tormented past.

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writer:

Paul Schrader

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer

50 wins & 80 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ethan Hawke	...	Toller
Amanda Seyfried	...	Mary
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Jeffers (as Cedric Antonio Kyles)
Victoria Hill	...	Esther
Philip Ettinger	...	Michael
Michael Gaston	...	Balq
Bill Hoag	...	Elder
Kristin Villanueva	...	Nurse
Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz	...	Middle-Aged Tourist
Ken Forman	...	Middle-Aged Man (as Ken Foreman)
Christopher Dylan White	...	College Student
Frank Rodriguez	...	Sheriff
Gary Lee Mahmoud	...	Doctor
Joseph Anthony Jerez	...	War Vet in Wheelchair (as Joseph Jerez)
Sue Jean Kim	...	Suriya

Storyline

Forty-six year old Reverend Ernst Toller is the pastor at the historic First Reformed Church in upstate New York. It is seen as the "tourist" church or the "souvenir shop" (its historical significance partly it being a stop on the underground railroad before the slaves crossed into Canada) by Abundant Life, which owns the church and which operates a modern self-named five thousand seat church overseen by Reverend Joel Jeffers. First Reformed is celebrating its two hundred fiftieth anniversary this year, for which a major event is planned, modest in size only at First Reformed itself although the dignitaries like the governor and mayor will be at attendance there, while the event will be simulcast at Abundant Life. Most of the speech-making will be done by local industrialist Ed Balq, a major benefactor of Abundant Life and who is the major donor for the necessary upgrades at First Reformed to be able to hold the event there, and for the event itself, while Toller's participation will ...

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | reference to god | priest as protagonist | church | christianity | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

First Reformed

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$97,562, 20 May 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,448,256, 2 August 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Killer Films, Fibonacci Films, Arclight Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screened at the New Zealand International Film Festival.

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Goofs

When Toller is writing in his journal we can see the previous pages, the ones he has presumably already filled with entries, are perfectly flat as in a brand new journal, not puffed up, as pages which have been filled would be. Also the thickness of the "filled" pages varies, getting thinner at times as the movie progresses.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Reverend Ernst Toller: I have decided to keep a journal. Not in a word program or digital file, but in longhand, writing every word out so that every inflection of penmanship, every word chosen, scratched out, revised, is recorded. To set down all my thoughts and the simple events of my day factually and without hiding anything. When writing about oneself, one should show no mercy. I will keep this diary for one year; 12 months. And at the end of that time, it will be destroyed. Shredded, then burnt. The...

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Josh Brolin/Cedric the Entertainer/Dave Itzkoff/Chvrches (2018)

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Soundtracks

Are You Washed in the Blood
Written by Elisha A. Hoffman
Performed by Julia Murney, Ronald Peet, Elanna White, Jake Alden-Falconer, Eric Lockley, Krystina Alabado

User Reviews

A daring and unexpected piece of filmmaking

I never expected to be so moved by "First Reformed", a small indie that tackles large themes such as climate change, mental health, and faith rather ferociously. Though it is a bit of a slow-burn at the start, it's impossible not to be drawn in by Ethan Hawke's magnetizing performance. He is masterful as Ernst Toller, a pastor who begins to unravel after an encounter a husband and wife who are environmental activists. The second half of the film is particularly strong, as Toller's polite and unassuming facade begins to crack, and writer/director Paul Schrader makes some daring filmmaking choices that add to the unpredictability of the film as it heads toward the climax. Though the ending has been controversial among audiences, I thought it was an incredibly bold, beautifully executed choice, and the final few minutes of the film have been seared into my mind. Regardless of how you respond to the ending, there is no doubt that this is a thought-provoking and important piece of art. A must-see.