I couldn’t help but think of nature all throughout Charlene Fisk’s Call and Response, a drama about the fear and love found when you allow yourself to be seen by someone you love. We can hear the wind through the woods in the opening scene as a father and daughter hunt for deer, and we can smell the woods. Fisk’s film, in a lot of ways, feels like it’s tapping into some instinctual and readily profound feelings when it comes to acceptance in the most unexpected places.
“Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain,” Pastor Frances tells Emma before she is to speak at Sunday’s church service. Emma and her Pop pop both had surprises this morning: he tells her that she will be reading a passage at today’s service, but he is probably more shocked when he discovers Emma kissing her friend, Nia, in the rectory right before the service begins.
With her traditional father in the congregation, Emma has to deal with one of the most difficult moments of her life, but rather than wallow in fear, Fisk allows the eyes of the audience lift Emma up. I am not religious by any means, but I could feel the certain love in that room–it’s how faith should probably always heal and assure us. Even though everyone might not know the specifics of Emma’s perseverance, they don’t falter when it comes to working your way through fear to make your confidence grow. ‘Is God even here?’ Emma asks more to herself than out towards the pastor and the congregants attending.
We always hear people talking about those who are too quick to judge, but are we too quick to be fearful? Do we need to give our fellow men and women more credit when it comes to acceptance, love, and holding the same ideals? Maybe we should be open to being surprised at how that kind of love can come from the most unexpected places? Brooklyn Nelson wears the anxiety all over her face. It’s a quiet performance that carries a lot of weight.
By the end of Fisk’s film, we are back outside. The autumnal chill remains, but something feels lighter or more at peace. If we let those who are supposed to love us do the work on themselves, the world seems even more full of possibilities.
Call and Response will play as part of Out On Film’s streaming programming beginning October 5.
