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Professor's Past Abuser Dilemma Revealed
4 Sep
Summary
- A professor grapples with a morally complex dilemma from his past.
- The film explores themes of masculinity, ethics, and the possibility of change.
- A dark secret from his youth resurfaces at a family funeral.
Paul Schrader's latest film, successful since his 2018 hit *First Reformed*, presents a deep study of masculinity and moral choice. The narrative centers on John Jorrisen, a philosophy professor at a liberal arts college, who is content with his mid-career success and his relationship with colleague Rebecca Richards. His life takes a dark turn when his father's funeral brings a shocking figure from his past to light.
This figure, Miguel Vasque, is the son of his father's gardener. Decades prior, when Miguel was the age of Rebecca's son, John sexually abused him. The incident was covered up by John's father, who paid for Miguel's education to make amends. John is now horrified, forced to confront his actions and re-evaluate his self-perception as a philosopher detached from personal fault.
The film meticulously tracks John's internal turmoil as he reconnects with Miguel. He grapples with the possibility of change, questioning if he is inherently an abuser who will revert to type. This existential crisis leads him to contemplate drastic measures, reflecting on philosophical attitudes towards life and death in a disquieting exploration of destiny and morality.
