It's me again, Irina Korobova - psychologist and movie enthusiast - and the club "Movies for the Brave". For those brave enough to think, "What was that all about?"
We are watching the film "Calvary" by John McDonagh. That's the McDonagh who made "The Guard" (not the one who made "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri").
The film is not very suitable for analysis with a psychologist because it raises questions of religion, faith, and values related to them. Psychology, on one hand, cannot compete with faith in terms of consolation. On the other hand, it raises many uncomfortable questions that we can discuss:
📌 Is the choice made by the main character based on Christian values truly making the world a better place? Could there have been other options?
📌 Is self-sacrifice good, bad, or for what reason? Who are we saving and for what purpose? And is it really salvation?
📌 Is it meaningful to offer, or even impose, values, let's say, unequivocally good ones (although there are questions), on people who are not internally ready for them and have not come to them independently? What will we achieve in the end?
📌 Could it be that my perception of the world is distorted by my traumas, limiting beliefs, and lack of information? If so, how can I evaluate the actions of others on any moral scale? And isn't it arrogance to decide that I know better? So how should we evaluate?
Overall, the film is complex and leaves a mixed impression. So come and join the discussion!