Stations of the Cross open with static
camera, focusing a group of teenagers trying to focus on the catholic preaching
of a very young priest. It lasts almost
20 minutes. I felt impatient. I desperately wanted to end it. The preaching
goes on describing the benefits of being faithful to God. It includes sacrifice
and turning deaf ears to satanic music. Priest
appears to be very subtle, but his language and the way he speaks explain his
impassion. The scene is executed with similarities to the famous painting of
Last Supper. Camera does not focus on a single person. But towards the end of
the scene; we get the idea that, our protagonist is a 14-year-old girl –Maria. In the following
scenes, we almost get the idea that; she wants to be a saint. She is ready for
sacrifice so that her younger brother starts speaking. We get to see her strong
mother who intently appraise her upbringing in true catholic faith.
But the movie is not about Maria. It is about faith and the extremity of
faith.Maria lives in the present. Her class mates are regular. But she belongs to
a separate era. She does not love God. Her faith asks her to fear God and she do
it with passion. She wants to follow her faith blindly. But she is also tempted
and the temptation part is the third chapter where she has a very normal
conversation with a boy of her age. This chapter is appropriately named as
Jesus Falls for the First Time. His name is Christian. He invites her to join
their Choir Practice which has a unified way of Soul and Gospel. Their conversation
is so pure and pleasant that, you could read their hearts. In the next chapter,
her mother goes to the extent that, such music is satanic. This scene in the
car is rather long. But the camera appropriately placed in the front of the
car, gives you a clear vision of whats going inside and what’s juxtaposed. I
really liked the dialogues. They never fail to convey the essence of the movie.
In the confession scene when the priest, visibly manipulates her innocence to
sin, we only see the poor Maria. Focus is entirely on her.
Maria gradually surrenders herself to the fear of God. She is an impressionist
kid. She wants her little brother to talk and she is ready to sacrifice herself
for it. Her gradual descent to this extremity is too painful to watch. But the director
carefully arrays devices for our meaningful journey. We are forced to hate her
mother and start a rebellion against the stupid faith. We are forced to smile
when her mother breaks down in the last chapter. Her speech on her daughter’s journey
to the sainthood does not even convince her. It does not convince us also. Maria’s
little brother starts speaking at the same moment, she dies. I am still not
convinced. How can God be so cruel? First He made the child dump and then takes
the life of his innocent sister. I don’t believe in that God. I don’t want to
fear the God either.
Stations of the Cross does not make any statement against faith. It
leaves you with questions. Camera ascents in the last chapter like God and it
sees the young Christian walking to the open fields and skies.I loved the
movie.Not because the movie is about faith.But particularly for the execution. The
14 chapters in the life of Maria are named after the events of crucification of
Jesus Christ. Director lets the actors to dwell in the characters and come up
with moments to enhance our watching experience. It engages you.Its a movie
that you cannot avoid. watch it.
