First Reformed (15)

Ethan Hawke stars in this gritty drama about a pastor who has lost everything, but must find a shred of hope to help a young pregnant woman (Amanda Seyfried) whose husband (Philip Ettinger) is on the brink of committing mass destruction…

Reverend Toller (Ethan Hawke) is meant to be a guiding presence for the people of the small town of Snowbridge. But every Sunday, his church is almost empty, and his soul is even emptier.

Sorrow and guilt sit on his shoulders. After convincing his son to join the army, he was killed in Iraq. The subsequent pain shattered his marriage, leaving Toller listless and alone, with only his faith to give him purpose and a bottle of scotch to curb the sting.

He’s forced into action when Mary (Amanda Seyfried), a young pregnant woman, asks for Toller’s help because she’s worried about her husband, Michael (Philip Ettinger). After visiting them, it becomes clear that cracks in the Snowbridge community have begun to widen – and it’s Toller’s responsibility to try to piece things back together.

Up against environmental destruction, political unrest, domestic violence, and a man who can only see one way out, Toller must try to summon a flicker of light to offer to the couple.
But how can he guide others when he himself is lost?

As he wrestles with the cruelties of the modern world, Toller finds it harder and harder to grasp the meaning behind the beliefs he is supposed to promote. And his vision begins to darken.

From acclaimed director Paul Schrader, who was involved in classics like Taxi Driver and American Gigolo, First Reformed is both dark and whimsical, a gritty drama that takes audiences beyond reality to raise questions about the very heart of mankind.

Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) stars, alongside Amanda Seyfried (Fathers & Daughters) and Cedric The Entertainer as Cedric Kyles, the town’s celebrity preacher.

Cert: 15

Running time: 1hr 53mins