The
brainchild of
Robert Duvall,
The Apostle tells in film the story of a
Pentecostal minister from his
childhood in rural
Texas to his adult life as a
preacher.
Robert Duvall wrote and directed this film, and it's not hard to see why he also had to bankroll it himself. It is subtle, deeply emotional, unflinching in its portrayal of Christian faith and fallibility[1], and invests the screen time necessary for genuine, richly nuanced character development -- in short, the worst nightmare of any studio accustomed to turning out action flicks.
I admire The Apostle for its ability to make everyone somewhat uncomfortable. CAPalert dislikes the moments of violence; I was squirming over my sudden immersion in a culture of emotion, faith, and the Holy Ghost. It has since become one of my favorite dramatic films.
[1] ...Wouldn't Faith and Fallibility be an excellent name for a Jane Austen novel?