A Prayer for the Dying, the latest film from Norway-based director Dara Van Dusen, is a technically sound yet emotionally unsatisfying drama that tells the story of an unfolding epidemic in 1870s Wisconsin. The film, adapted from the novel by Stewart O’Nan, boasts a talented cast, including Johnny Flynn and John C Reilly, but ultimately feels like a short film stretched too long.
The story takes place in a frontier town in Wisconsin, where Jacob, played by Johnny Flynn, serves as both sheriff and pastor. Haunted by his experiences in the civil war, Jacob is married to Marta, played by Kristine Kujath Thorp, and they have a young child. The town's tranquility is disrupted by the discovery of a dead body, an itinerant drifter who died of diphtheria, sparking fears of a catastrophic epidemic.
The town's doctor, played by John C Reilly, is horrified by the discovery and realizes that a woman from a neighboring religious community has the same symptoms. As the men debate how to respond to the crisis, they are divided between imposing a lockdown-quarantine and adopting a policy of non-acknowledgment. However, the disease soon renders this dilemma irrelevant, and Jacob is unable to enforce his strictures, leading to scenes of horror and chaos.
Confronting Trauma and Disease
The film's use of a spreading wildfire as a backdrop to the epidemic creates an eerie red glow, which could be interpreted as a PTSD projection or a dramatization of Jacob's unhappy mind. Reilly delivers a sympathetic and weighty performance, while Flynn, although watchable, seems to lack the necessary direction to convey the wrenching anguish required by his role.
The film's technically accomplished visuals and set pieces are striking, but they feel disconnected from any emotional truth. This lack of emotional substance is perhaps due to the film's indulgent expansion from what feels like a short film concept. Despite its promising premise, A Prayer for the Dying ultimately fails to deliver on its promises, leaving the viewer with a sense of dissatisfaction.
A Prayer for the Dying screened at the Berlin film festival, where it was met with a mixed response. As reported by The Guardian, the film's somber tone and technically sound production were notable, but its lack of emotional substance was a major drawback.
Expert Analysis
According to experts, the film's failure to deliver on its promises can be attributed to its inability to balance its technical accomplishments with emotional substance. The film's use of striking visuals and set pieces, although impressive, feels disconnected from the story's emotional core. This lack of balance ultimately leads to a sense of dissatisfaction and disappointment.
