Why would anyone want to watch a film about a pedophile? That is definitely a fair question. When I first saw the trailer for the film, I thought it looked interesting, but at a more visceral level I was disgusted that anyone would make such a movie. There are few things that so repulse us than those who victimize children, especially when they do so sexually. We don’t want to have to think about it. We certainly don’t want to come to the point of sympathizing with someone who would do such a heinous crime.

The Woodsman really doesn’t so much sympathize with Walter as it does give us a view of his ongoing struggle. Neither Walter nor the viewer is aware of what led him to these deeds. He wants to be normal, but knows that his desires are not normal, nor are they easy to control. Back in society, he is often in the presence of children. He lives across the street from an elementary school (the only landlord who’d rent to him). He sees them on the bus, in the mall, just about anyplace he goes.

His struggle is magnified by his isolation. He is sullen and solitary – full of self hatred that comes to a head late in the film. He has either cut himself off, or been cut off by those who have known him. Within his family, only his brother-in-law will have anything to do with him. No one at his job knows his secret, and when it is found out, he is ostracized and threatened. A police sergeant keeps coming by to keep tabs on him and to make sure Walter knows he’s unwanted and being watched.

The film is not an attempt to excuse or explain such behavior. It recognizes the grave nature of the subject. Walter is always seen as a flawed and damaged individual. But he is seeking to overcome his desires. In that he has a small sense of the heroic in his character. He continues to grow through the film. By the end of the film, there is enough hope for Walter that we can leave the theater without the despair of knowing that failure awaits him, but we are never really sure.

The film does not ask us to forgive Walter, but it does call us to question the extent to which we continue to punish people long after they have done wrong. To be sure, someone needs to keep an eye on Walter. But at the same time, the lack of support from nearly the whole community only adds to his feelings of alienation and need to experience some form of love. That is not to say that we bear responsibility for recidivism of molesters; that is their responsibility. But we often let our feelings rule such situations.

As hard as it may be for us to fathom, God is willing to forgive even those like Walter if they seek God’s forgiveness. One of the qualities of God’s grace is that it is available even when the world is unwilling to offer grace. Walter is deeply in need of such grace. Perhaps it is God’s grace that is allowing Walter to keep ahead in his struggle.