WIUKtK
continued from page 10
the missing girl is dead or alive — or
even really missing. The real conflict
at this point is between the sergeant's
religious views and those of the is
landers. With his strict morality, he
tends to come off as a pompous rev
erend, forcing his virtues onto those
around him. The islanders are a tad
bit more accepting, yet that sinister
tone persists in almost everything
they do. When their conspiracy is fi
nally revealed, it changes everything
that has happened before. Rather
than seem sinister, their actions are
now downright horrifying.
Yet the film is more than a simple
"good Christian, bad pagan" tale. The
actions of the islanders are much more
complex, being the natural outcome
of their belief system when put under
stress. What religion they belong to
makes no difference; what matters is
that it allows for drastic actions to
survive, me him can be read in a num
ber of different ways: As a condemna
tion of religions which allow for vio
lent actions in their faith, an attack on
religious faith in general, or as a para
ble concerning Christian/pagan dy
namics. While such readings can be
fruitful, they are unnecessary by the
film's conclusion. The simple, visceral
power of the last few scenes says more
than any amount of theological analy
sis ever could.
The film's strongest point is its re
fusal to choose sides Rather than
boiling down everything to good
guy/bad guy dynamics, it leaves
moral uncertainties and gray areas.
Through its powerful imagery, it cap
tures an odd sort of world and shows
us, step by step, how religious belief
can often lead people to commit
atrocities. Yet the question of which
is to blame, the people or the faith, is
never answered.
Contact the senior Pulse reporter
at ryannyburg@dailyemerald.com.
Yoirre always close to campus.
— —> www.dailyemerald.com
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