Lady in the Water

M. Night Shyamalan has to be the most "spiritual" artist working in Hollywood these days. His films awaken us to another world, one we forget exists. Critics have loved him and hated him. Audiences have loved him and hated him. I just love him. He has never misfired, and Lady in the Water is no exception.
LITW takes place inside an apartment complex in Philadelphia, which is a microcosm for the world. No shot ever takes place outside the complex. One day the superintendant, Cleveland Heep (the great Paul Giamatti), discovers a sea-nymph that has come to their world. Her name is Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), and through her life everyone in the complex finds their own personal story. God has written and is writing the great story, the meta-narrative, and each of our little stories plays a part in the bigger story. We find our purpose in the larger purpose. Let's investigate some of the individual stories present here.

Cleveland Heep had experienced an unimaginable tragedy, his family was murdered. He ran away, he could not deal with the pain and the memories. He used to be a doctor, but now all he wants to do is forget the pain. What he doesn't realize is that he has a purpose, a reason to live, and something to contribute. He is much more than a glorified janitor. Others in the complex are struggling with purpose as well. Reggie (Freddie Rodriguez) is working out one side of his body, and looks ridiculous. But his desire reflects a deeper desire, to save and protect others. Vic (Shyamalan) is writing something that he doesn't think will be all that great. But his book could be a major catalyst in the great story we all find ourselves in. Everyone has a role to play, a purpose in the story. After learning of an ancient bedtime story, Heep tries to figure out who in the complex is which role in the story. They ask the resident movie critic, and he tells them all the predictable things. But he is wrong. We must not be prideful and think we can understand the mysteries of life so easily. And sometimes we think we know what our purpose is, and we end up being wrong. But that does not mean we lack purpose.

LITW is also the funniest film Shyamalan has done, which just adds to the utter pleasure at work in the film.

The film is a supernatural fantasy that reminds us that another world exists; something else much bigger is going on and a lot of the time we don't notice it. Shyamalan helps us wake up and try to see God at work in the ordinary things. Lady in the Water teaches us that the world is a mysterious, beautiful, and frightening place. It also reminds us that our lives matter, all of our lives.

It was a shame that Lady in the Water received such horrible reviews. I think part of it was the fact that Shyamalan cast himself in a pretty arrogant role. Also, the film critic ends up being a complete idiot. And people are still waiting for Shyamalan to do another Sixth Sense (which, coincidentally, was his most popular but worst film). Maybe Night will never regain critical or popular praise, but I hope he keeps making films. He is an original and vital voice in today's film industry.