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

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 62 wins & 103 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 ...

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

Forgive us, for we have sinned.

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing violent images

Did You Know?

Trivia

Amanda Seyfried was pregnant during the production.

---

Goofs

In the voiceover, Toller tells how he went into the church one night and "fell asleep on a bench." No ordained minister would ever call a "pew" a "bench."

---

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...

---

Connections

Featured in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Ethan Hawke/Toni Collette/Jeff Arcuri (2018)

---

Soundtracks

Onward, Christian Soldiers
Written by Sabine Baring-Gould
Composed by Arthur Sullivan
Performed by Brian Williams (as Lustmord)

User Reviews

Thought-Provoking, Unsettling Character Study

Paul Schrader's new drama "First Reformed" is a drama about a grieving reverend who is counseling a couple--the husband of which is a radical environmentalist. This is a talky, dialogue- driven, and unsettling thriller that makes you both empathize with its characters as well as send a chill down your spine at times.

The film's deeply intellectual and serious commentary on matters of religion and environmentalism is profound and thoughtful. This movie will likely not be suited for mainstream audiences desiring cheap entertainment, but serious viewers looking to be challenged in their thought processes will have much material to ponder during--and after--they view the movie. The acting is very strong, as Schrader commands his cast into giving low-key but quietly powerful and resonant performances. The standouts in the cast are Ethan Hawke's lead role as well as Amanda Seyfried and Cedric the Entertainer in the supporting cast. A gripping, dark (almost relentlessly so at times) tone keeps the viewer engrossed in the film. While this isn't a horror film (despite containing disturbing content and moments,) the film's simple score is incredibly chilling and gets under one's skin more than almost any other film's score I have witnessed in a long time.

My only complaints about this film are found in the third act. A dreamlike, surrealistic scene inspired by impressionism that involves the protagonist and Seyfried's character feels out of place given the grim tone deeply rooted in realism. Additionally, a quick and highly abrupt cut in the film's finale feels disappointing and almost like the equivalent of a 'cop-out' in film editing. It did not positively impact how I viewed the film's ending. But other than these concerns, this is a very well-made and serious drama designed to quietly shock audiences into a state of reflection on the world today as we know it. 8/10

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:

Hicksville, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$97,562, 20 May 2018

Gross USA:

$3,448,256

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,862,498

Company Credits

Production Co:

Killer Films, Omeira Studio Partners, Fibonacci Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1