Escaping Freedom (2020)

Yikes, this film is a mess. Cinematographically and emotionally. It’s a story of pastor “Vincent” (Patrick D. Green) whose parish is struggling financially, whose disturbed foster-sister “Krystal” (Kelly Godell) has arrived unannounced on his doorstep after four years apart and as if that isn’t enough, he is having certain urges that are causing him to question his commitment to his faith, his flock and his friendship with fellow pastor “Marcus” (Jonathan Miles). She is prone to bouts of depression and hedonism, is used to speaking her mind and is also an aspiring actress so in just about every way imaginable is a contrast to her more reserved brother, and so as this way too long drama unfolds we see the attempts they make to redefine their relationship - with varying lively degrees of usually temporary success. Godell is easily the best on screen here (reminding me a little of Laura Dern) as her character clearly has the most to work with. Green, on the other hand, has far less of the play and what he does have is often just reduced to head-in-his-hands stuff whilst he awaits the next storm to hit his already troubled life. It could easily have lost an hour and condensed what intensity there is into something a little more potent, but the production is all too television movie-ish and there is simply too much padding to sustain what could have been a better focussed critique on the reconciling of sexuality and faith whilst maybe even beginning a process of learning about the importance of forgiveness and living your own life on your own terms. I wouldn’t bother with this, sorry.