I watched the movie “States of Grace” last week and enjoyed it. The movie isn’t perfect, but it is by far Richard Dutcher’s (the director) best effort to date. Brigham Young University’s decision not to show it on campus is ridiculous. However, the movie is for older children and adults. It deals with many of the gray areas of Mormonism.
The movie is about the “last week” of an Hispanic missionary’s 2-year mission in the L.A. area. One unusual thing after another happens to he and his companion. SOG deals with gangs, alcoholism, pornography, homelessness, race relations, tatoos, violence, revenge, missionary misconduct, suicide, manhood, redemption, forgiveness, judging people, parental expectations, tokenism, crucifixes, etc. And there in lies the principal fault; the movie is too fragmented. Is also too long (128 minutes) and the ending tries to be symbolic, but ends up being contrived.
However, having said that, I liked the movie a lot. The missionaries are taking chances. As one missionary comments to the other: “This is definitely against the rules.” The pair get caught in a drive-by shooting, they befriend the would-be actress next store who has participated in a couple of porn flics, they take in a homeless preacher, etc. They do things that are either frowned upon or are forbidden. In other words, the missionaries are living in the gray area (and have a very sympathetic Mission President).
There are consequences from living in the gray area, some good and some may be construed as bad. The movie isn’t polyannish by any stretch of the imagination. But the movie does end on an up-beat note. On a literal level, SOG could be arguing for a more relaxed form of missionary work. On a symbolic level, the movie seems to be arguing that life isn’t all black and white. And that members should be more engaged in the world, despite all the “risks.” On a religious level, the movie deals with decisions, consequences, redemption, and, of course, God’s grace.
There are strong arguments for forgiveness. And an important message for parents (depending on your point of view). Commenting in SUNSTONE about some parent’s reaction to missionary sexual misconduct (they’d rather see their child dead), Dutcher responded: “I’ve always found the notion repugnant and have seen how it has caused so much damage and heartache. . . . How can someone believe in the atonement of Christ and have something like that come out of his or her mouth.” Dutcher drives this point home in SOG. He also deals with a similar issue as it relates to the actress and her parents.
Dutcher’s movie puts forth numerous points that bear discussion. It is more useful in this regard than a months worth of canned Sunday School lessons. It causes the movie viewer to think (is that what BYU is afraid of?). What more could you ask? Maybe for a slightly shorter movie. End it at 1:53 (with the missionary hugging the repentant gang-banger).
I wonder what Larry H. Miller feels about a movie he produced not being shown at BYU?
PS. If you liked SOG, watch “New York Doll.”
