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Guilt in Movies

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How is guilt portrayed in some films we've seen? What role does religion play in this guilt and how does it affect the way characters deal with their guilt?

Guilt in films can take on many different forms. Guilt has been portrayed as a means to achieve an intended goal or as an obstacle in the way of true love and ones beliefs. Religion in many films works closely in conjunction with guilt. In the film Keeping the Faith, religious guilt is an underlying theme throughout the movie. Religion plays a key role in the formation of guilt in both Jake and Bryan throughout the film. Simultaneously, it serves as a means for both characters to atone for their sins and free themselves of guilt. At the onset of the film, guilt is presented in a jocular manner closely tied to religion. When looking to buy a karaoke machine for a community center, Jake and Bryan venture into an electronics store. The employee assisting them attempts to haggle with them over the price and will not give them a good offer. Bryan then unzips his jacket to reveal his stole. The employee immediately reduces the price and offers to help in any way he can. Religion in this scene precipitated the formation of guilt in the employee. The thought that overcharging a priest would be immoral invokes this sense of guilt. As Bryan represents a mediatory agent between G-D and humans, the employee sees overcharging Bryan as a betrayal of G-D. As the movie continues, guilt becomes a large component of the love story that unfolds between Anna, Jake and Bryan. Anna, a long lost old friend, finally comes back into the lives of Jake and Bryan. Subsequently, both men fall in love with Anna and Anna falls in love with Jake. Though love is supposed to be sacred, both Jake and Bryan’s devotion to their respective religions, families and congregations create an intense feeling of guilt in both men.
Jake, an up and coming rabbi, has finally fallen in love. However, many members of the community, including his mother believe a Jewish man must marry a Jewish woman. Though Jake is in love with Anna, his devotion to Judaism creates an enormous guilt. He feels he is betraying both his religion and community by continuing to see Anna even though he is in love. One can see the manifestation of this guilt when Jake and Anna go to a movie and he is unwilling to recognize Anna as his girlfriend to members of the congregation. He feels too much guilt to openly address that he is dating a non-Jewish woman. After his mother chastised his brother Ethan for marrying a non-Jewish woman, Jake is unwilling to gamble his job and relationships for Anna. However, after Jake realizes that he should embrace his love for Anna no matter the cost, he feels that he must seek forgiveness even though he has done nothing wrong. On the holiday Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement in the Jewish religion, Jake speaks in front of his congregation and reveals the truth about his relationship with Anna. Only after seeking forgiveness is Jake’s guilt assuaged, allowing him to express is affection for Anna.
Bryan, Jake’s best friend, is also in love with Anna. However, his priesthood requires him to remain single to prove his devotion to G-D. Bryan develops enormous guilt after finding out that Anna is in love with Jake. He confesses to the head priest that he is in love with a woman and is willing to quit his priesthood for her. The head priest then explains that he cannot make a commitment to G-D until he accepts that it is a choice he will have to continue to make. Bryan is only able to alleviate his guilt by confessing to a fellow priest. He again feels devoted to his religion, understanding that love is a human emotion that cannot be ignored, but that his continuous decision to remain devoted separates him from the congregation. Anna, too, feels the need to repent for lying to Bryan. She feels guilty that she had betrayed his trust and led him on throughout their relationship. In order to atone, she goes to confession, where Bryan listens to her apologize and seek forgiveness. Only after she atones for her sin does the burden of guilt lift, allowing her and Bryan to continue their friendship.
Religion and guilt work hand in hand. Religion sets the moral standards in which humanity abides by. Many people develop guilt as a consequence of being immoral or unfaithful to ones religion. Keeping the Faith is a testament to the power religion has on civilization and the ability it has to both form and alleviate guilt.

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