Groundbreaking director-writer-producer M. Night Shyamalan’s talents return to the big screen with Touchstone Pictures’ “The Village” following the successes of such critically acclaimed blockbusters as “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable,” and “Signs.”
Heralded as one of the most innovative and original filmmakers of our time, M. Night Shyamalan’s films have touched hearts and minds of all ages with universal themes such as “ghosts and family” in “The Sixth Sense,” the world of comic books and mortality in “Unbreakable,” and aliens and faith in “Signs.” Now, with “The Village,” Shyamalan continues to connect with audiences, taking them on a journey to explore how fear can affect a community. Philosopher Bertrand Russell said, “To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
With this type of thinking, even in times of fear, daily life can continue. Fathers talk with their daughters. Sons fall in love. Friendships grow closer. The exceptional Oscar-winning/ nominated ensemble cast of “The Village,” which stars Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, and Brendan Gleeson, embrace M. Night Shyamalan’s storytelling, and thus “The Village” is his most intimate and emotional film accomplishment to date. How many times have we heard a parent reassure a child that “there is nothing to be afraid of?” But do these parents speak the truth? In M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village” the fear of the creatures in the woods, or as they are referred to as “Those We Don’t Speak Of,” threaten their community and the safety of the children.
In “The Village” the elders of the town have made a choice to co-exist with their community inside an isolated village. Cutting themselves off from the rest of the world, their fear of the creatures, and what other evils may exist beyond their town borders, gives them motivation to stay in tact and safe with their loved ones.
We can’t ignore fear. We live with fear every day. Whether it be creatures in the woods, or in our modern society, the uncertainty of the safety of our own children the moment they leave the house to go to school. Fear surrounds us daily as we watch the network news and hear of child abductions, enemies of war, or terrorism. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, is it true that “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”? Or does society show us otherwise?
What do we do to maintain our sense of community in times of fear? The people of “The Village” bonded together and went to great lengths to keep their community safe and protect themselves from their fears. Says M. Night Shyamalan, “In our contemporary world I often ask myself how far would I go to protect my children? Would I move to a farm in the middle of nowhere and live like the people of ‘The Village?’ We like to believe we would, but how many of us have? What sacrifices are we truly making to better our situation?”
In times of crisis, community can be what helps us to survive against fear. Says producer Sam Mercer, ‘The Village’ isn’t that different from neighborhoods of today. When fear begins to threaten and take hold, people reach out and turn to one another for support. It is that sense of community that builds strength.”
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