This amazing movie is just 83 minutes long, but is nothing short of incredible. It is one of the few films that I would consider near perfect in all aspects – scripting, acting, editing… Most importantly, the message is driven across in a deeply heartfelt way. I first watched it via a rented DVD. But it was so good that I bought the DVD, and decided to share the lessons learnt in detail.
DHARMA@CINEMA: The Woodsman (M18)
Movie Screening & Sharing by Shen Shi’an
What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? Winner of 6 awards and nominated for 16, ‘The Woodsman’ is an engaging story on the true meaning of repentance, and the power that guilt has over us. But most of all, it is about how we all can transform positively, to rise above judgment and let go of self-punishment.
Walter (Kevin Bacon in his best performance to date), a convicted sex offender, is trying to put his life back together. He lands a steady job, he sees an earnest therapist, and he spends time with his sympathetic brother-in-law. Still he cannot escape his past – his sister shuns him, and he lives in fear of being discovered. Walter finds unexpected comfort in Vicki, but even her love is not enough to keep the demons away. As he discovers, it is hard to resist old temptations. ‘The Woodsman’ presents a haunting portrait of a figure, demonized by society, who struggles to prove that he is worthy of a second chance. It is a story of redemption, human courage and forgiveness.
Venue: Awareness Place [Well-Being] Centre, #03-39 Bras Basah Complex
Date/Time: Thu 14 May 2009, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Register: Email wsdp@kmspks.org, Tel 6849 5346 or SMS 8100 3587 your name and contact info
About the Speaker: Shen Shi’an was one of the founding members of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery’s Dharma Propagation Division in 1997. Holding an MA in Buddhist Studies, he currently serves as a Dharma Trainer and Project Coordinator in the Community Development & Training Department, focusing on research, writing and teaching on various subjects of Buddhism.
He was the founder of the monastery’s Youth Mission (now named Youth Ministry), a purchaser for its Awareness Place bookshop project, and the Chief Editor of the Web and Library Department, which co-supported Buddhanet.net, the world’s most popular Buddhist website. He is the founder and editor of TheDailyEnlightenment.com, one of the world’s largest independent Buddhist inspirational e-newsletter with over 26,000 members, the editor of ‘Be a Lamp Upon Yourself’, ‘Awaken: Gateway to Buddhism’ and ‘The Daily Enlightenment (1,2,3)’. He also contributes occasionally to magazines such as ‘Nanyang Buddhist’, ‘Awaken’ and ‘For You (Information)’, and writes Dharma movie reviews for BuddhistChannel.tv, the world’s leading international Buddhist news network.
He is used to conducting Dharma discussions for youths at tertiary institutions’ Buddhist societies, and has taught at the Singapore Buddhist Federation’s English Dharma Class. He has represented Buddhist perspectives in NACLI, NHB, NHG, SAF, SPF and ACM events and is a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, through which he participates in interfaith harmony projects. He also co-runs Moonpointer.com, which is a community blog that promotes sharing of Buddhism via writing.
Organised by kmsYM (Youth Ministry of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery): Offering young adults effective ways to learn Buddhism while achieving personal & spiritual growth: www.kmspks.org/youth