The American old west is often depicted as a land of rugged individualism and unforgiving landscapes, but in Dara Van Dusen's directorial debut, A Prayer for the Dying, it is a backdrop for a somber tale of epidemic and trauma. According to The Guardian, this technically accomplished yet unsatisfying drama is an adaptation of Stewart O'Nan's novel, and its visual gestures and set pieces, although striking and often shocking, feel disconnected from any emotional truth.
The story takes place in a frontier town in Wisconsin in 1870, where Jacob, played by Johnny Flynn, serves as both sheriff and pastor. He is a complex character, having seen traumatizing service in the civil war, and his Norwegian background has raised suspicions among some townspeople. Jacob is married to Marta, played by Kristine Kujath Thorp, and they have a young child, but their lives are about to be disrupted by a catastrophic event.
The discovery of a dead body on the town's outskirts, still in uniform from the war, sets off a chain of events that will test the town's resilience. The town's doctor, played by John C Reilly, is horrified to realize that the man died of diphtheria, and a woman from a neighboring religious community shows symptoms of the same disease. As the epidemic spreads, the men are divided on how to respond, with some advocating for a lockdown and others pushing for a secretive policy of non-acknowledgment.
The Epidemic Unfolds
As the disease takes hold, Jacob struggles to enforce his strictures, and the town descends into chaos. The scenes of horror are made worse by the news of a spreading wildfire, which creates an eerie red glow in the atmosphere. This glow could be a PTSD projection, a dramatization of Jacob's already deeply unhappy mind. Reilly delivers his role with sympathy and weight, while Flynn, though always a watchable screen performer, seems to lack the necessary wrenching anguish.
The film's technical accomplishments are undeniable, but it ultimately delivers less than it promises. The story feels like a short film stretched too long, with visual gestures and set pieces that, although striking, fail to evoke a deeper emotional response. A Prayer for the Dying screened at the Berlin film festival, where it likely sparked discussions about the film's themes and technical merits.
Despite its shortcomings, the film remains a thought-provoking exploration of trauma, epidemic, and the human condition. As the town struggles to come to terms with the disaster unfolding around them, the audience is left to ponder the consequences of their actions. With its somber tone and striking visuals, A Prayer for the Dying is a film that will linger in the viewer's mind long after the credits roll.
