Struggling with Death
—If I had to simplify this film (which would be a serious injustice), I would say it is the story of a family dealing with the death of their son. But, it far exceeds that as Director Jim Sheridan takes us through the entire grieving process with this family. We feel the guilt, the blame, the anger at God along with the inability to feel, juxtaposed to the very real undercurrent of sorrow. A father looks for his dead child during a game, and a mother sees the resemblance of the child in her husband’s eyes. But Sheridan doesn’t stop there. He pursues the struggle of a dying man, Mateo, who has not yet “crossed over.” Again, we feel. We feel his anger, isolation, fear and the appreciation of life and friendship. I loved his short, powerful monologue. In two hours, we struggle with these characters through the entire range of emotions surrounding death. But, unlike the Bible, we come away with no definite answers. The Bible offers answers, but thankfully it does not ignore the struggle of man to make sense of his life.

Wrestling with Faith
– What is Heaven? Is it the ice cream parlor down the street where the mother Sarah works? Is where E.T. really lives? Does it even exist? I don’t think Sheridan answers this question, but he certainly does raise the question over and over again with his connections to E.T., aliens, “believing” and the afterlife. He also shows the struggle of faith after the unjust death of Frankie, Johnny and Sarah’s child. Although Johnny doesn’t outright curse God, he definitely separates himself from God. “I asked God for a favor—take me instead of him, and He took the both of us. Look what he left, a ghost.” Words like these echo every person’s struggle with God’s sovereignty in death. Why does He choose to take people when He does? It is ultimately a faith issue. I think the Bible actually answers this in 2 Peter 3:9 as the writer explains why Christ doesn’t come back and end all evil. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise [to return], as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Johnny later reveals his true inner belief that God loves him, when the prospect of Christy contracting AIDS arises. He says, “God wouldn’t do that to me.” The movie seems to imply that God is good and worthy of our faith in him--not only for the hope of life after death, but also for coping with life as we continue to live it.

Exposing God’s Goodness
– In America doesn’t show how God is good as much as it illuminates the goodness that exists in the world. The dialogue and imagery is so powerful that the intense sorrow of the film is counter-balanced by joy. We are glad to hear Sarah’s translation of the words “black man” in Irish. We say, finally--a comment on the beauty of diverse culture, rather than a complaint about the unfairness of racism. We take pride in Johnny’s perseverance, recycling bottles to come up with a few pennies to provide air conditioning for his family. We are struck by the description of a crack house as “your new mansion”—a refreshing attitude of gratefulness. We are relieved when Mateo treats rather than tricks the girls. He gives them a jar of change, Mateo’s Fortune, and reveals how truly generous one can be in the midst of pain. We admire Christi’s unrestrained love as she gives mouth to mouth CPR to Mateo, regardless of risk. And how can we forget the passion-driven lightening, rain, and blood as Johnny and Sarah (and God) create life? We laugh at Mateo’s imagination, calling blood spaghetti sauce, and explaining that his AIDS sores are a result of him being an alien with sensitive skin. The list goes on. There are so many moments of goodness and joy speckled throughout the grief in this movie. And why not? That’s what this world is with God in it. Can you imagine if God removed his Spirit from this Earth? Take away the joy, hope, the beauty of diversity, perseverance, gratitude, good will, generosity, love, passion, and imagination from this life and what is left? Can you even imagine a world without God?

I don’t know. This film really left me speechless. It was one of those that stayed with me for weeks after viewing it. I don’t really watch movies twice, but I am anxious to see this one again. I feel like it had a lot more to say than I could possibly absorb in one viewing.