Displaying items by tag: The Aqarians movie

THE AQUARIANS

US, 2017, 103 minutes, Colour.

Chandler Massey, Shane Coffey, Tracey Fairaway, Richard Riehle, Melissa Nearman, Rebecca Stone Thornberry, James De Vita.

Directed by Michael M.McGuire.

A drama from middle America, winning an award as the best film of its year from the state of Wisconsin.

At the centre of the film is young seminarian, now a Deacon, sent on pastoral ministry to a parish. It is his home parish, his mother involved in the parish, the parish priest is ill, interviews the Deacon, commissions him to various functions, is seen in hospital, questioning the Deacon’s behaviour and decisions. 

There are scenes of Church practice, the church building, iconography, his presence with the congregation, administration of the sacraments, especially at mass. A parishioner is critical, comes to him in confession,  wants to open up about his homosexuality, is dissatisfied with the Deacon’s response.

The Deacon’s brother has long since left church practice and is critical of his brother. They have long discussions about the nature of priesthood, the Deacon’s motivations, questioning his decisions, putting him in situations with drugtaking, with girlfriends, the film raising issues about seminary formation in the US, criticisms, the need for discernment of vocation, a commitment to ministry.

The ending of the film has the seminarian deciding to go back to the seminary, discuss with the Bishop, get on the bus – but he gets off the bus, returns to his brother, leaving it to the audience to imagine the future to the audience.

1. The title, astrology, water?
2. Wisconsin, the locations, the town, homes, the church, hospital? The landscapes, winter, lakes and ice? The musical score? Religious themes?
3. The background of the Catholic Church,, affirmation, critique?
4. Church practice, the church building, iconography, the star, Daniel’s mother, the parish priest, his presence with the congregation, the Deacon, administration of the sacraments?
5. Daniel story, his family, the group brothers, Chris dying, the other two left, Daniel taking the blame, making his brother take the lift which crashed? His going to the cemetery, motivation, completing the course, ordained Deacon, how sure of his vocation? Supplying the parish, discussions with his mother, with the parish priest, affirmation challenge, meeting up with Jake, the distance between them? His past work, the sacraments, Eucharist, confession? Moving toward ordination?
6. The parish priest, his long service, his attitudes, personality, sick, giving commissions to Daniel, urging him on?
7. His mother, her hopes, the discussions? Her place in the church?
8. Jake, younger, the past, his talent, taking the blame for his brother’s death, his life alone, drugs, sexual relations, loss of faith, critique of the church, his ideas? And the parties? The issue?
9. The encounter with the teacher, his memories, borrowing the sore, cutting the wood, taking it to the fishing hot? And the end?
10. The suspicious parishioner, his wife, coming to the church, his looking on Daniel, his words, asking to go to confession, the confession, his homosexuality, Daniel’s response, how sympathetic, how helpful? The effect on the man afterwards?
11. The girls, in themselves, Chris’s girlfriend, the years passing, her lesbian partner, socialising, the discussions, at the party, with Daniel, provocative, Daniel’s response?
12. Danny and Jake, the discussions, religion, priesthood? Daniel exhorting Jake?
13. The party, drugs, testing Daniel, his taking the drugs, drinking, high, the sexual provocation, issues for his vocational choice?
14. The ice, fishing, the brothers fighting on the ice, going through the ice, Jake technically dead for some time, saving Daniel? The effect on each of the consequences?
15. The aftermath, Daniel leaving Jake, going to the bus station, going back to the seminary, discussions with the Bishop? Getting the bus, returning to Jake? No ordination? Or decision for ordination?