THE RAPTURE (1991)

written and directed by Michael Tolkin

starring: Mimi Rogers, David Duchovny, Patrick Bauchau, Will Patton and James Le Gros

"Then the woman fled into the desert where she had a place prepared for her by God".

Book of Revelations, Chapter 12, Verse 6

Novelist-turned-screenwriter, Michael Tolkin (The Player and The New Age) made his directorial debut examining man's eternal question of faith, in this story of a woman's quest for divine salvation.

Mimi Rogers (Bulletproof Heart, Full Body Massage, and Someone To Watch Over Me) stars as Sharon, a beautiful, yet, lonely, spiritually rudderless, and morally bankrupt, Los Angeles telephone operator who spends her nights engaging in meaningless sexual acts with her seemingly financially independent friend, Vic, played by Patrick Bauchau (The New Age and The State of Things), and assorted and multiple partners.  Through one of these liaisons, she meets Randy, a drifter/hustler played by David Duchovny (Kalifornia and Playing God), with a less than savory background, and begins a casual one-on-one affair.

But something is missing from Sharon's life.  Something that she can't quite wrap her mind around.  That is until a series of events occur in near succession.  It begins with overheard veiled whispers by some co-workers about a Boy Prophet, a giant pearl, and the impending Day of Judgment -- followed by a visit to her apartment by two Bible-toting missionaries who tell her to trust in God.  And then, during one of her and Vic's sexual encounters she meets a beautiful young woman with an elaborate tattoo upon her back depicting a giant pearl within the Hand of God.

Finally, late one night, Sharon snaps and tosses Randy out of her bed and out of her apartment, claiming that she has to change the direction of her life and must seek salvation.

With Randy gone, freshly showered and with clean sheets on the bed, she begins to pray to God. She prays for guidance and acceptance.  She prays for the dream of the Pearl.  But to no avail.

The next day, after picking up Tommy, a hitchhiking ex-con, played by James LeGros (Destiny Turn on the Radio, Gun Crazy, and Living in Oblivion), and lures him to a Hollywood motel for what he believes will be some cheap sex, she steals his gun and sends him on his way.  She then proceeds to drink herself drunk so that she may work up the courage to kill herself.  In the end, she doesn't have the strength and resorts to reading the complimentary Gideon bible and has her first vision of the Pearl.

At work, Sharon is transformed and, convinced that she has to prepare the public for the return of Christ, asks each of her callers if they have met God.  She is subsequently reprimanded by her supervisor for spending too much time with each call, only to learn that he too is a believer.  He invites her to participate in a Bible group and she finally meets the Boy Prophet, who tells the group that they are five to six years away from the Second Coming.

Sharon, having quit her life with Vic, now pledges her love to Randy, assuring him that she will pray for the both of them.  Randy finally succumbs.

Flash forward six years and Sharon and Randy are married and living in suburbia with their six-year old daughter, Mary, happy in the knowledge that the End is coming soon.  

But Randy, now a businessman, is tragically murdered by a disgruntled and disturbed former employee.  Sharon comforts their daughter by telling her that her daddy is in Heaven waiting for them and with Judgment Day just around the corner, they will be seeing him soon.  They must trust in God.

Soon after the funeral, while walking past a Foto-Mat, Sharon sees an image of Randy superimposed in an anonymous family's vacation photographs.  The Boy Prophet tells her that it is a sign from God instructing her to go to the desert and wait for Him.  But no else in their group has had these visions - no one else has been "invited".  She must go alone, as God wants her for a special purpose.  She must trust in God.

With little food and clothes, Sharon and Mary drive out to the desert and begin their vigil.  Day after day, they wait.  And wait.  And wait. 

Soon, Mary, overcome with hunger and grief, becomes distraught and convinces her mother that they should kill themselves rather than wait any longer.  Sharon reluctantly agrees, but after killing her daughter, she once again, does not have the strength to kill herself - not because she is a coward, but rather because suicide is a mortal sin and prevents one from entering Heaven.

Speeding out of the desert, she is pulled over by Foster, a local sheriff, played by Will Patton (Romeo Is Bleeding, The Spitfire Grill, and Tollbooth), who had befriended her and her daughter days before.  When Sharon confesses to the murder of her child, he arrests her and takes her to jail.

In her cell, she continues to struggle with her faith.  She decides that she doesn't love God anymore.  He has too many rules.  He let her kill her little girl and yet He still expects her to love Him.

In the next cell is the aforementioned Tattooed Woman.  She too has found God and assures Sharon that if she were to trust in the word of God, He will forgive all her sins.  But what Sharon wants to know is: "Who forgives God?"

The film ends, as predicted, with the Second Coming and because Sharon can not profess her love for God - because she can not forgive Him for all the pain and suffering He has created on Earth - she is left alone.

She is right back where she started.  And this time it is for eternity.

What is the message of this film?  Maybe Michael Tolkin is holding up a mirror to our collective faces/consciences inviting us to gaze upon our own reflections and ponder our own faith - or lack thereof.  Or maybe he is simply sticking his finger in the proverbial eye of religion.

You decide.

[originally published in VMag - November 1998]