Stations of the Cross 2014

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.