The Woodsman

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I've just finished watching a little known film called The Woodsman and was blown away by the power of this film.  That Kevin Bacon didn't even receive a Best Actor nomination should be a matter of shame to the industry.

In a single line, this is the story of a child molester who is released from a 12 year prison sentence and his struggle to fit into society.  Firstly, I should quickly make it clear that this film is in no way gratuitous.  So for anyone who is put off by the subject matter, there are no graphic scenes here involving children, nor does it attempt to condone his actions.

What you will find is a stunning and gripping portrayal of a man tormented by internal conflict.  I'd encourage anyone to check it out.  In fact, watch it twice.  There is some fascinating symbolism in the supporting roles, which is easy to miss on an initial viewing.

But what really stood out for me is how accurately the movie chronicles such a controversial topic.  If there is one sexual perversion that stirs up feelings of hatred and condemnation, it is surely pedophilia.  Other forms of sexual immorality tend to divide opinion, but I have never yet heard of anyone who would argue the case for pedophilia.  And rightly so.

Yet, here we manage to see something quite rare, as we're given an incredible insight into the viewpoint of the molester, prompting a fresh understanding without ever condoning.

After mulling this over, I've concluded that this only works because Bacon's character is painfully aware of how twisted his feelings are, and desperately wants to be rid of them - to feel 'normal' again.  As a society, we're often quick to judge others for sins that we could never picture ourselves committing.  I've done it myself before, but realise it's rather hypocritical.  Most of us never have sexual feelings towards children, so we view that small minority who have such a perversion as worse than ourselves.

What is overlooked by that kind of attitude though is that every one of us has the potential to do wrong.  Every one of us faces different temptations to do wrong.  When you really start to examine the nature of humanity and it's potential for depravity, it's not the things we are tempted by that count, but how we react to them.

In 'The Woodsman', we see a man who previously gave into those things that tempted him, but since then appears to have undergone a genuine reform, and although the desires still plague him, he now despises them and is fighting hard to not yield to the path he previously trod.  That is to be applauded.

On the other hand, if someone else has only ever been tempted by things that are generally seen within our current society as more acceptable, we are unlikely to ever make the effort to resist those things.  So, who is really the better person - the one who faces demons that most of us never do but battles them with every ounce of strength, or the one who only faces 'acceptable' sins and gives in to them every time?

As a much more renowned film critic has pithily observed: "It is not that we are capable of transgression that condemns us, but that we are willing".