Wow. I don't think I realized just how affecting this would be.

When I first came across the film almost two years ago, I somewhat dismissed it as religious propaganda given the title. But it really is the precise opposite. [spoiler]If I'd thought about the title for a moment and read the metaphor there, the ending would have been evident.[/spoiler]

The best part of this film is probably the camera work—or rather, the near-complete lack thereof. Every scene is done as a long take, and (with two exceptions) with a static camera. Because it occurs so infrequently, any camera movement at all is imbued with dramatic importance. The static shots compel the viewer to choose where to direct their attention, rather than having the director do so with cuts, pans, etc., which also forces the viewer to really pay attention to what is happening everywhere in a given shot. Sometimes that means missing a detail in one place as a result of watching elsewhere, but I don't think that's a flaw in the film—I think it's a strength. After all, in real life, no one tells us where to look, and we miss things. What matters is being able to fill in what we've missed, if needed, from context, and there's plenty of it on screen.

I have no doubt that this movie will remain on my short list of most thought-provoking films for many years.