Sexuality is something that is typically very private and personal to each individual. Everyone has their own comfort level when it comes to how they discuss or express their sexuality, and matters only get further complicated when you add in religion to the mix. In Karen Maine’s semi-autobiographical directorial debut Yes, God, Yes, the profound impact of religious doctrine on impressionable young minds is explored for humor while maintaining a dramatic critical lense. Rather than play as a heightened satire such as Saved!, Yes, God, Yes is more straightforward in its depiction of church culture and sexuality with humor arising from the painfully realistic ways in which damnation is used as a scare tactic. Even if you have not grown up surrounded by this type of religious repression, the film eases you into the world with such a deft hand that you will feel how problematic the messaging is from these religious figures. The film is not a condemnation of religion, necessarily, but it does take aim at the hypocrisy and the unhealthy manipulation that comes from individuals in that world.
Alice (Natalia Dyer, Stranger Things) is a sheltered teenager at a strict Catholic high school in the early days of the new millennium. She is doing her best to remain pure in the eyes of the Lord, especially after hearing Father Murphy (Timothy Simons, Veep) equate masturbation with eternal damnation in his class on “morality.” Sure, she has maybe watched the steamy scene from Titanic one too many times, but her natural curiosity has not led her down any paths that would be considered unchaste. One afternoon, Alice is trying to play a simple trivia game on AIM when a private chat turns a bit racy. Alice is taken aback, but she does not turn it off. Curiosity in the graphic conversation soon leads to horniness and self-pleasure, which opens up some complicated feelings about the state of her soul. This made her feel good, so it can’t be THAT sinful, can it? She barely has time to explore her feelings about this before she becomes the subject of an untrue rumor regarding a sex act with a fellow student, which is extremely frustrating to her considering no one will tell her what “tossed salad” means. When the opportunity for a weekend faith retreat presents itself, Alice and her classmates take the chance to go get closer to God.
The outstanding Dyer gives Alice a believable complexity that is endearing without ever going too broad. The film delicately shows the genuine and performative religious commitment of these students and teachers in a way that feels real without offering unearned judgement. There are many teenagers who find themselves playing the part of who they are expected to be in order to fit in with their peer group, not even taking into account that they believe their mortal soul might be in danger. Alice’s “friend” Laura (Francesca Reale) is less interested in being a good friend to Alice, and more concerned with being perfectly “spiritual” to ingratiate herself with the school’s queen bee, Nina (Alisha Boe, 13 Reasons Why). Alice is just hoping the retreat will help restore her reputation and get back on the righteous path, but the hunky group leader, Chris (Wolfgang Novogratz), is sending her sexual imagination into overdrive. The cringe-inducing activities at the retreat perfectly recreates what it feels like to be in this world. From burning up “sin-filled” marshmallows to make s’mores to envisioning Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” is about Jesus, every moment feels hilariously authentic.
Yet, Alice does not feel any better about her burgeoning sexual feelings. The more she experiences at the retreat, the more disenchanted she feels in her beliefs. Once she is pushed to the outside by her peer group and authority figures, she begins to see the hypocrisy on display, from sexual encounters in the woods from the most vocal believers to some extremely questionable decision making on the part of Father Murphy. There is nothing wrong with Alice, and the realistic evolution in her beliefs is funny and endearing. There are some minor missteps when it comes to believability as they rush to wrap up the incredibly brief film in a satisfying manner, but overall the sentiment lands. The film can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a charming coming-of-age tale, but those who grew up surrounded in religious fervor will have an added layer of appreciation for what this film tackles. Maine has delivered a winning film with a clever, incisive script and lived in performances that is guaranteed to make you take notice of her next projects. While you wait for that, you might as well go check out that steamy Titanic scene again.
Yes, God, Yes is currently available to watch on VOD and Digital through Vertical Entertainment.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
