Movie Review: States of Grace
Richard Dutcher (God’s Army, Brigham City) dives into the personal spirituality of members of various Christian faiths in States of Grace. This movie was outstanding. It truly surpassed my expectations. Dutcher, as he said in his commentary, included various beliefs and philosophies he was considering in this movie. Dutcher is a Latter-day Saint, and the main character of this movie are LDS Missionaries. However, Dutcher’s beliefs have caused him to virtually leave the LDS Church and this movie seems to be a transition for him.
While the main characters may be LDS, the movie also features Pentecostals, Baptists, Lutherans, and Catholics. Every person in the movie is trying to be the best they can in the situations they find themselves in. Each teaches each other the value of loving one another. There is a scene in which one of the missionaries is trying to convince his companion that carrying a homeless man to their apartment so that he may sleep in a warm bed, instead of behind a dumpster, is Christ-like. Doing so would be against the rules, but this missionary poses the question of whether they should keep the rules, and break the commandments; or break the rules, and keep the commandments.
The trails of every character shape who they become at the end of the movie. The focus becomes Christ. Religious barriers are broken and forgiveness is understood. In absolutely beautiful way, every character bows before Christ, regardless the faith.
Some may presume there is an LDS motive behind this movie. I can assure you that this movie in no way attempts to persuade anyone to join the LDS Church. In fact, only one person is converted in the movie, and there is a total absence of the pursuit of others.
As someone whose path had led him to step away from the LDS Church, and one who has served a mission, this movie touched me on so many levels. I connected with the universal presentation of Christianity in connection with the LDS Church. I felt I could understand how Dutcher worked his changing beliefs into this movie.
I would highly recommend seeing this movie, regardless of your faith. It’s fantastically done and I give two thumbs up! Find out more about this worthwhile movie at http://www.statesofgrace.c
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