Information About “The River Thief”

So the movie The River Thief releases today, and I want first to give you information about the movie, and how you can arrange to watch it. I will begin with that general info and a behind-the-scenes discussion about how the movie came to be. Then after that I will make a few comments about my take on the film, and will say here for the first time that the second part of this post will be spoiler territory.

First, here is the behind the scenes link:

There’s a limited, nationwide theatrical release, which means that it might be in a theater near you, and it might be there today. But it also immediately available to watch on most cable (DirecTV, Dish Network, etc.) as well as VOD outlets. Here are a few links to help you with that. You can get it at iTunes and Amazon.

Now for my review, such as it is. I confess at the outset that I am not objective, having—as I do—cute descendants in the movie. But I also think objectivity is sometimes overrated, or valued highly for its deficiencies instead of its virtues. And lack of objectivity can be compensated for with honesty and a close-up perspective, which I think I can bring. Some of the critical reviews complained about the erratic nature of some of the editorial cuts, for example. I would prefer to point out the erratic nature of critical reviews. Other reviewers are not embarrassed by a combination of high faith, low budgets and intelligent storytelling, as here, for instance.

On top of that, I can testify that the insanity involved (as described in the behind-the-scenes video above) was actually several notches above what they described. To move from no-script to your-footage-in-the-can in under three weeks would be a remarkable feat for anyone, including especially first-timers, but they did it. The result includes some startlingly beautiful cinematography, a compelling story throughout, intelligent dialog, and a conclusion that leans hard against some standard evangelical cinematic clichés.

So then, now for the spoiler territory: You might want to postpone reading this until after you have seen the movie . . . except for the next two sentences. I would not necessarily recommend taking very young children to the movie. The movie can rightly be described as “faith-based,” which is not necessarily the same thing as “family-friendly.” The bad guys really are bad, and the conclusion is pretty intense, with Marty (Tommy Cash) and Diz (Joel Courtney) both getting shot, and there goes the happy ending. Actually, there goes what some people define as a happy ending. We are not evolutionists, where survival is assumed to be the highest good. The voice over at the end (Joel Courtney) is the voice of resurrection.

So what is it about then? The story is a retelling of the thief on the cross, coming to faith at the last minute. Images that point to this—think of Pilate washing his hands—are very much present. An early form of the movie poster asked something to the effect of “what if the best day of your life was your last?” Marty is entirely ready for death, and invites Diz to accompany him, in gratitude and faith. Diz, bewildered about everything almost to the last, accepts the invitation.

He was attracted to something about Selah, but had no real idea what it was. He was attracted to the faith as represented in her as a woman, and was simultaneously attracted and repelled by the faith as it is represented in Marty as a father. He learns that he must come to the father first. She is the glory, and Marty is the cross. There is a reveal at the end about Diz’s biological father that shows the power of regeneration as a “father transplant.”

The energy of the film consists of his desire to be where they are, and their utter lack of desire to be where he is. There is nothing cool about that kind of death. The gravitational pull in this movie is away from the destructiveness of sin, and toward a simple gratitude for life, every kind of life, as a gift. And that gratitude is itself a gift, lest any should boast.