Act of God (2009)

In "Act of God," the profound mysteries and implications of lightning strikes are intimately explored through six distinct yet interconnected narratives. These personal accounts shed light on the awe-inspiring and life-altering power of nature's most electrifying phenomenon. We journey first to an Ontario farm, where a man recounts the harrowing tale of a lightning strike that nearly claimed his life and tragically ended his friend's thirty years prior. Their brush with death occurred in the heart of a forest, a place of serene beauty transformed into a deadly battleground in seconds. Next, we meet a storm chaser whose fascination with lightning has driven him to create a museum in a French region often plagued by tempestuous storms. His lifelong obsession has evolved over time, leading him to renounce associating his image with the subject. A man who survived a lightning strike via a telephone line shares his transformative journey from a tumultuous past to a life of service, founding a palliative care organization for veterans. His experience illuminates the power of lightning to alter one's perspective and life's path dramatically. In a predominately black Cuban community, we delve into their devout belief in the African lightning god Shango, also known as Santa Barbara among Catholics. Their narrative reveals the rituals undertaken to placate their deity whenever lightning graces the sky. A group of Mexican mothers and a teenage survivor recount a devastating incident where a lightning strike claimed the lives of children praying at the Holy Cross atop a local hill. Their poignant stories shed light on the impact of such a catastrophe on faith and belief systems. Finally, we hear from a playwright who narrowly escaped death by lightning during a summer camp hike at fourteen, an incident that claimed his friend's life. His narrative explores the existential questions such events can provoke, questioning whether they are mere chance or part of a grander scheme. Interwoven through these narratives is a fascinating look at the connection between brain activity during creative pursuits and electrical impulses, likened to mini lightning strikes. This parallel offers an intriguing exploration of why lightning might hold such a primal, transformative power over us. "Act of God" is a captivating exploration of the profound metaphysical and personal impacts of an elemental force, both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

Act of God is a documentary movie featuring Paul Auster and directed by Jennifer Baichwal.

Act of God is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Metrograph.

It is also possible to buy Act of God on Apple TV.