Paige Bier_April 25_Northfork

The 2003 film Northfork presents the juxtaposition of shamanistic spiritual views with Christian views. Shamanism involves altering a state of consciousness of an individual to have a spiritual interaction that they can channel into the real world. Christ’s death and resurrection is similar to some shamanistic healing practices because he died for all sins of all human beings. This means that the death of Christ and cleaning the sins of human beings past, present, and future can act as a shamanistic healing practice.

Since this film spends its time trying to find the last lost angel, it displays the qualities necessary in being an angel. Towards the end of the film, the priest says, “I am a man of faith. My job is to dispel doubt. But I doubt my faith”. Throughout this film, the priest cares for the sick and plans to nourish them back to health. The priest shows the love that Christ had for this world by caring for the sick and those in need. On the other hand, the priest says he “doubts his faith” and nothing in this film can show us why. This may have something to do with the shamanistic practices that take place in the consciousness of the priest. 
           After seeing Wings of Desire and The Jacket, I can see how similar religious messages can be conveyed in different ways. Norfolk shares the perspective of angels shown in Wings of Desire while displaying shamanism found in The Jacket. This proves that the production of films is essential in conveying religious practices in a variety of ways. I was able to grasp concepts from Northfolk that I also see represented, although differently, in Wings of Desire and The Jacket.