2008 Woodie Awards
Unpopular Favorites: "The Rapture"
A Searing Gaze into the Light and the Abyss
Michael Ordoña
Issue date: 4/28/04 Section: Valley Life
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Each week, the editors of The Valley Star present a review of an overlooked piece of art - an album, a book, a film, etc. - in the hopes of introducing it to a new audience.
"The Rapture" is one of the most brilliant, insightful and disturbing films about religion, spirituality and the deep need for fulfillment that you've never seen.
"Do you understand the difference between righteousness and faith?" asks one character. But that's not all that this film asks. It asks the big questions, like, is there a God? And if so, why does He allow evil in the world? And even if God forgives you your sins, who forgives God for His?
When released in 1992, this dark, unflinching look at modern emptiness perplexed critics and caused a stir amongst those who believe in the Christian myth of the Rapture. Inspired by portions of the Book of Revelations, that myth holds that, on Judgment Day, those who hold love for God in their hearts will be transformed into spirits and taken to Heaven while all others will be left behind. Belief in this story is strong enough that several related cults have popped up over the years.
"The Rapture" tells the story of Sharon (Mimi Rogers, in a pitch-perfect performance), an information operator who has become anaesthetized to feeling. She moves in a hollow world of random sex and no connections, compulsively engaging in one-night stands but never being reached by other people.
By chance, she stumbles onto a thread which leads to a genteel group of Christian believers. At first, she laughs at their apparently kooky ideas, but eventually finds herself drawn in.
"There are five billion people on the planet, there's I don't know how many religions," she says to some converted co-workers. "Why does the god of some little country on the Mediterranean have to be the God for everyone? Isn't that a little arrogant? I mean, really.
"The buddhists seem to get along okay without Jesus Christ. The Hindus get along okay without Jesus Christ. The Muslims seem to be getting along okay without Jesus Christ."
"The Rapture" is one of the most brilliant, insightful and disturbing films about religion, spirituality and the deep need for fulfillment that you've never seen.
"Do you understand the difference between righteousness and faith?" asks one character. But that's not all that this film asks. It asks the big questions, like, is there a God? And if so, why does He allow evil in the world? And even if God forgives you your sins, who forgives God for His?
When released in 1992, this dark, unflinching look at modern emptiness perplexed critics and caused a stir amongst those who believe in the Christian myth of the Rapture. Inspired by portions of the Book of Revelations, that myth holds that, on Judgment Day, those who hold love for God in their hearts will be transformed into spirits and taken to Heaven while all others will be left behind. Belief in this story is strong enough that several related cults have popped up over the years.
"The Rapture" tells the story of Sharon (Mimi Rogers, in a pitch-perfect performance), an information operator who has become anaesthetized to feeling. She moves in a hollow world of random sex and no connections, compulsively engaging in one-night stands but never being reached by other people.
By chance, she stumbles onto a thread which leads to a genteel group of Christian believers. At first, she laughs at their apparently kooky ideas, but eventually finds herself drawn in.
"There are five billion people on the planet, there's I don't know how many religions," she says to some converted co-workers. "Why does the god of some little country on the Mediterranean have to be the God for everyone? Isn't that a little arrogant? I mean, really.
"The buddhists seem to get along okay without Jesus Christ. The Hindus get along okay without Jesus Christ. The Muslims seem to be getting along okay without Jesus Christ."
