WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The dynamics of belief and the roots of faith. In the daily striving to understand who we are in this ever-challenging world, we turn to the source so many seek–God. In doing so, however, it opens us up to the realizations that not every search, not every question, not every road is revealed with immediacy. Then the query becomes more intense and causes us to wonder at when those answers might come. For one young woman (Brittany Renee Smith), this is where she finds herself, even as the desperate exploration of her own ideology is being shaken.
Taking a reflective look through the eyes of both her present circumstances as well as the past, she finds the often convoluted mix of legalism, doubt, and the cacophony of attitudes towards her struggle that seems to drive her both towards and away from God. Yet, even in the midst of this extraordinary inner conflict, there is the basis for hope, total joy, revelation, and a sense of peace in knowing that no matter how far away and forgotten she feels, God is still there, still longing to provide the relief and deliverance from her uncertainties.
Next, my Mind:
Director/co-writer/co-producer/editor Steven Adam Renkovish delivers a deeply affecting, firmly grounded, real-world take on the concepts of belief vs. doubt, faith in God, and how it all applies to our daily existence via his 16-minute short film effort that paints the all-too-real portrait of modern Christianity and the fragmented nature of it that drives the questions to arise within our hearts and spirit as to His presence in both our most joyous and darkest moments. Additionally, what makes this film effective is that its themes can truly be significant to anyone who’s battling these elements in their life, regardless of creed, as the message here isn’t religion, but rather the personal relationship with God, which is the key to finding the answers sought, and also illustrates how boldly transparent we can be with Him in our hurts and hesitations while also showing the release and peace that comes from persevering. Beautifully filmed to give the effort its personal feel while voiceover narration adds poignant pieces of truth along the way, the music score also brings the proceedings smoothly together to create the engaging cinema presented for viewers.
Lead actress and co-writer/producer Smith lends such a sincere air of believability and vulnerability as a woman so overtly torn between what she’s already experienced with God yet suddenly finding herself fighting the skepticism, feelings of disconnection, abandonment, and wariness of having laid her life fully out to Him yet still thinking there’s no tangible appreciation from Him for it, despite knowing deep inside that’s not the case. The blissfully silent yet inwardly frantic journey she takes is emotional and genuine, again perfectly emoted and enacted by Smith throughout. Many supporting characters, unnamed here, swirl in and out of this narrative, very much accurately representing all of the outward points of dissension our lead faces, including religious legalism and a judgmental boyfriend, to those of attempted encouragement via true friends and an understanding Bible study group. It all brings the totality of the film’s themes to bear and how it impacts the lead’s path in rediscovering her true convictions.
Overall, “A Beautiful Silence” carries itself with an excellent awareness that should very much touch people right where they’re at, no matter what beliefs they might hold, as the film presents that search for spiritual fulfillment and answers to eternal questions that actually may not come straightaway or, at minimum, without an intentionality in heart to entreat God to reveal it. It’s the beauty of human nature and the mysterious ways God knitted us together that shows us how much appreciation we can have in relationship with Him while endeavoring to attain the closeness daily with Him we desire, even if we don’t always want to acknowledge or surrender to it.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
