MovieChat Forums > The Rapture (1991) Discussion > Why is this film so rarely found or talk...

Why is this film so rarely found or talked about?

posted 14 years ago by codyhoskins
6 replies | jump to latest

When I was about five or six, my parents watched The Rapture when it first came out on video. I remembered watching specific moments of the film with them and I was disturbed and shocked that it stayed with me that I wanted to find out what the name of that film was because I don't think they ever gave me the title. Now that I know the title, I'm surprised that this film isn't widely talked about anywhere. I know that it was an indie pic from the early days of New Line Cinema, yet indie films have been usually regarded as classics for the art house audiences. Unfortunately, this movie isn't mentioned in those spaces either.
The only place where this movie has found a place is in the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die, which is very weird. Most of the indie films in that book have been treated as acclaimed classics of cinema and have been found in certain places. So why would the book include The Rapture when it's found so little recognition elsewhere? For a film that is so shocking yet thought-provoking, it should be remembered and talked about yet it still isn't. Why is it still rarely finding its place anywhere among the voice of movie viewers when such controversial hits as The Da Vinci Code and His Dark Materials get a lot of attention for their religious subtexts?

[–] wakanasakai 14 years ago

Why is this film so rarely found or talked about?

Movie. Obscure. 'Nuff said.

[–] Gypsy_Violins 14 years ago

I guess obscure is the best answer. I just had The Rapture suggested to me by a friend. I immediately knew the movie for the exact reason the OP said, some of the film was just haunting.

[–] Educated_Bum 14 years ago

The film is very vague. Believers will interpret it as irreligious and non believers as madness. As an example, as a non-believer I was offended that she killed her child. The child was innocent and too young to chose her faith. A believer might be offended that in the bible god stops the hand of Abraham. Here he lets the child die for her mother's belief... or madness.

Unsatisfying to all.

[–] rexamillion 14 years ago

I agree with your point, that this movie is frustrating to many different points of view-

But just to be clear, you say "as a nonbeliever I was offended when she killed her child" Well, as a believer that offended me (and I'm sure any other Christian who's seen this) too! It's a completely unrealistic portrayal of what she would do in that situation. But of course, nonbelievers would see that and think, "Oh those crazy Christians, that's just what they would do!" Which of course is way off base.

[–] Educated_Bum 14 years ago

I didn't mean to imply "those crazy Christians".

In fact I left out anything about how others (of any faith) might respond to the sacrifice of a child, or anyone for that matter, to their faith. Clearly, I think that sacrificing a child to ones faith is madness, but I strive to accept, or at least tolerate others beliefs no matter how offensive they are to me.

In South America, there are native tribes that routinely abandon "defective" children to the jungle to die. In Africa, women are routinely circumcised, and in Afghanistan (where we are sacrificing our own young people for some mad beliefs) women are kept like cattle in high walled family compounds for their entire life. I find all of that mad--but who am I to say that? And certainly who am I to force my beliefs on others.

I believe tolerance of others is key to peace for all--that is my religion or faith.

[–] rexamillion 14 years ago

OK. I think it was your phrase "as a nonbeliever" that made me think it was directed at her character's faith specifically....
I would say, to go another direction, I understand plurality and tolerance and trying to be multicultural and all, but to say "who am I to judge?" about some of your examples above is a bit of a copout. You have to draw a line somewhere. Is murder OK in your book if I have a good excuse based on some cultural belief?
Couldn't all people agree that killing others (leaving babies to die in a jungle) or taking away someone's freedom for life (Muslim women compounds) can be called inherently "wrong"? These are way beyond circumcision, male or female, for example.
There are gray areas in morality, no doubt...but, c'mon!