Resurrection

Acquiring the power to heal

After a horrible accident a woman (Ellen Burstyn) has a vague life-after-death experience and soon discovers that she has healing powers, which results in conflicting reactions from people. Sam Shepard plays her beau, Eva Le Gallienne her loving grandma and Richard Farnsworth a charismatic old man living in the desert.

"Resurrection" (1980) explores a concept that was addressed a dozen years earlier in the Star Trek episode "The Empath” except that the story takes place in present-day America (which would be 1979 when the film was shot). How would people in the breadbasket of America take a woman who has the power to heal? The theme would be explored further 15 years later in “Powder” (1995) and "Phenomenon" (1996). I think “Powder” is the most moving of the three and at least touches greatness, although this one has its moments.

What hinders it is a little too much boring drama and, worst of all, an eye-rolling scene of a guy with a rifle on a motorcycle. While that part of the story reflects real-life to some degree, it could’ve been better written and executed. By “reflecting real-life” I’m talking about those troubled souls who suddenly have a religious epiphany and start engulfing the Scriptures; within mere days – VOILA – they’re a veritable Bible scholar, running off halfcocked with loudmouthed blatherings and the corresponding antics. It’s all unbalanced, legalistic zeal with no wisdom.

The movie brings up interesting issues and is effective for the most part with a few highlights, but it basks in its ambiguities and grey areas to the point of idiocy. For instance, is the laconic father so evil for not wanting his daughter to “shack up” on his own property (even though she’s about 40 years-old)? If she wanted to “live in sin” she could’ve simply moved out. This way she wouldn’t disrespect her dad’s obvious moral position. You would think that Edna’s experiences after the accident would’ve inspired some spiritual common sense.

The film runs 1 hour, 43 minutes, and was shot on the prairie east of San Antonio, Texas (Goliad, Shiner, Gonzales, Fabens & Kyle), with some sequences done in Valencia & Los Angeles, California, as well as Fabens in west Texas, southeast of El Paso.

GRADE: B-/C+