A Review of Moses
the Black by Olszyk
Distribution Service: Fathom Entertainment
MPAA Rating, R
OSV Rating, Not rated at the time of this review
Reel Rating, Three Reels
Yelena
Popovic is a wonderful oddity in Hollywood. She grew up in war torn Yugoslavia
as the Iron Curtain collapsed and her nation descended into chaos. To escape,
she became an international model and actress. As she entered industry-mandated
retirement (ei, her 30s), Popovic pivoted to filmmaking, drawing on her
childhood experiences and deep Orthodox faith. Her sophomore effort, Man
of God, was the best
films of 2022. Now she has another hagiography of sorts which isn’t quite
as good but still highlights the salvific power of Christ amidst terrible
evil.
Malik (Omar
Epps), leader of a local Chicago gang, has just finished several years in
prison, but it seems to have no effect on him. Picked up by his second in
command Mike (Corey Hendrix), he discusses plans on his way home and assists in
an assassination mere minutes into the film. His grandmother suggests there is
a better path for him, giving him a holy card of St. Moses the Black,
explaining that this 5th century monk also had a murderous past.
Malik is initially dismissive but begins have dreams about the Ethiopian saint.
When his grandmother dies, an attempt on his life is made during the funeral,
sending one of his soldiers to the hospital. Pressure mounts for an all-out war
with some of the younger men openly suggesting Malik has gone soft. But is
there another way?
There are
two versions of Christianity presented in Moses the Black typified by
the characters of Malik and Mike. Malik has virtually no faith at all. Yet when
he encounters the saintly Moses, he is invited into the mystery of Christ. His
faith, like Moses, is marked for asceticism and repentance. He feels the weight
of his sins. Following Christ means giving up everything and suffering
immensely. Mike, on the other hand, dresses in nice suits while attending
Sunday service and gleefully quotes the Bible. Yet on the other six days, he
engages in murder, drug trafficking, and money laundering. His faith just
floats on the surface, merely for appearances, and has no real effect on his
life. This is like the Parable of the Sower. Mike’s faith withers at any sign
of struggle, but Malik’s intense suffering will produce fruit a hundred-fold,
even if it has deadly consequences for himself.
Moses
the Black is a deep dive into the world of African American gang culture in
the United States; Popovic has clearly done her homework and hired actors who
understand the material. This is a society that, while it might have trappings
of Christianity like giant silver crosses, is pagan to its core. Everyone is
out for themselves, and worth is defined by wealth, power, and personal pride.
Members spend most of their time checking social media on their phones or
relentlessly mocking younger soldiers for their shortcomings. When another man returns
from prison, he celebrates with a cake made from hundred-dollar bills presented
by a scantly clad woman. He throws the money in the air, not caring if it is
ruined by beer puddles. Reason and caution are lame; violence and rash behavior
are praised. It would be easy to blame these young men as reaping the
consequences of their actions, but many are born into these problems. It also doesn’t
help that many government officials and even law enforcement are complicit in
these vices.
The script
of Moses is weak and often hard to understand, and the flashbacks don’t
fit well in the narrative. However, the emotions of the characters and
spiritual strife come through clear as day. Omar Epps has a unique ability to
convey meaning through his eyes, and one can see just through his expressions
an intense internal struggle. This culminates in a final moving scene where
Malik takes on the role of Christ in a profound way by not just accepting
responsibility for his actions but embracing the inevitable suffering that
comes with a plan for peace among his people. Those who live by the sword may
still need to die by the sword, but if they put themselves at the mercy of
Christ, they will live forever in the Spirit.
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