As It Is In Heaven

Seldom, but thankfully from time to time, one sees a film that renews your enthusiasm for going to the movies. For me, As It Is In Heaven, was one of these. So it is a good film with which to retake my writing on this blog after allowing it to lapse for a long time.

It is quite hard to understand why this film has the emotional impact that it does. The story is almost ridiculously simple. A world famous conductor suffers a mental breakdown and possibly a heart attack brought on by stress and retires to the small town where he grew up. He becomes a cantor attached to the local church and coaches the small choir. That’s about it.

The film’s impact lies in the development and interaction of the characters as they go about their fairly ordinary lives. They fight, insult and abuse each other and yet their lives are deeply entwined. Religious faith and alternative interpretations thereof is an important theme. On the intellectual, philosophical level viewers will have different interpretations of what the underlying message is, if there is one. You may come away thinking that the film is critical of church based religion or you may see it as a paean to the oneness of all being. However you may choose to interpret the film intellectually, unless you are emotionally stunted, you will have a hard time holding back the tears during the final scenes. An uplifting, thought provoking movie that is well made and manages to be entertaining at the same time. One could hardly ask for more.