One's own soul
I think I've recommended the movie "True Confessions" here before, as a moving story of repentance and forgiveness thinly disguised as a detective mystery about corruption in church and government. This week I stumbled on a similar drama that I also recommend: a British detective series called "Unforgotten" about cold-case files. The show's first season at first promises to be a procedural about drastically aged forensic evidence, along with doubts in the minds of investigators about the value of stirring up decades-old conflicts that have long since scabbed over. It's also confusing at first in introducing a large cast of characters with no obvious connections to the mystery or the overarching plot.
Shortly, however, the story becomes a powerful vehicle for exploring the damage done to souls and families by lies and secrecy, as well as the many possible responses to the duty to face guilt in oneself or one's loved ones, and often even to bring oneself or one's loved ones to justice, accepting the private and public opprobrium and the unpredictable criminal penalties. Some of the story lines about clarity and forgiveness are quite overwhelming. A sharp screenplay, understated direction, and capable acting.
I recall that David Petraeus' lawyer was able to negotiate a good deal for Petraeus by shaping both sides of the prosecution, negotiating first the charges that would be filed and then the guilty plea. Most people don't get that kind of a deal: the government makes a decision about what they are going to force on the subject, and then overcharges them so severely that pleading guilty in order to get that forced settlement is the only option. An elite like Petraeus gets that special treatment.
ReplyDeleteI don't regard the government as adequately just to be involved in issues of justice, for reasons like this. Being honest and confessing your sins to your family or community is quite a different matter. Although, it occurs to me that for the most part our intimates know perfectly well what our sins are: the function of confession usually isn't to eliminate a poisonous secrecy, but to accept responsibility. Everyone you're genuinely close to already knows what you're doing wrong, just as you know what they are.