ON FAITH & MEDIA | Synecdoche, New York

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Synecdoche, New York

By
Source: Catholic News Service

Surreal, pessimistic drama in which a theater director (Philip Seymour Hoffman), deserted by his artist wife (Catherine Keener), endlessly rehearses a constantly expanding autobiographical play while battling bizarre illnesses and seeking emotional fulfillment from his second spouse (Michelle Williams) and an on-again-off-again lover (Samantha Morton). Writer Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, an ambitious meditation on life, love, creativity and death, though impressively acted—especially by Hoffman—makes only sporadic references to faith and presents both artistic and personal failure as inevitable. Strong sexual content, including brief graphic sexual activity, adultery, rear and upper female nudity, frequent rough and some crude language, a few uses of profanity and a suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L—limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R—restricted; under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Theophilus of Corte: If we expect saints to do marvelous things continually and to leave us many memorable quotes, we are bound to be disappointed with St. Theophilus. The mystery of God's grace in a person's life, however, has a beauty all its own.
<p>Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer. After admirably completing his studies, he was ordained and assigned to a retreat house near Subiaco. Inspired by the austere life of the Franciscans there, he founded other such houses in Corsica and Tuscany. Over the years, he became famous for his preaching as well as his missionary efforts. </p><p>Though he was always somewhat sickly, Theophilus generously served the needs of God's people in the confessional, in the sickroom and at the graveside. Worn out by his labors, he died on June 17, 1740. He was canonized in 1930.</p>

God doesn't abandon people just because an accident happened. He doesn't abandon people who are the victims of poor judgment or of evildoers. He is always there. It's up to us to find him.

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