As with all movies on this website, our goal is not to provide a complete synopsis of the movie, but rather to document how the movie relates to the meaning of life. With that said, be forewarned, there are still spoilers ahead.
Leap of Faith is an American comedy film that was released in 1992, directed by Richard Pearce starring Steve Martin, Debra Winger, and many others. The movie is about faith (or the lack thereof), love, hardship, and hope.
If you're a conman that thrives off of hope, faith, and fear, what do you do when your truck breaks down in a town hobbled by unemployment and despair? You give the people Jesus, of course, which is exactly what Jonas Nightengale (Steve Martin) does, and while conning the people, his entourage literally squeeze the last few cents of the town. So, Jonas (a Hebrew name for dove), heals the sick (or rather those pretending to be sick and shocking the atual sick people into temporarily thinking they're healed). While doing this, he in his own words, (gives) some empty lives a little meaning.
The audience is amazing, doubly so after the sheriff tries to expose Jonas as a fraud, and Jonas, being the conman he is, only capitalizes on the moment. After all, who better to help redeem sinners than the biggest sinner of them all? Nearly ruined, running out of people to heal, Jonas comes face to face with healing a local boy that was crippled by a drunk driver he connected with early while trying to hit on his big sister. He tells the audience the boy can only be cured if everyone has faith; and Jonas singles out the sheriff as an unbeliever, yet does Jonas believe himself? Of course not! Yet, miraculously the boy walked after doctors told him he'd never walk again. Was Jonas, the conman conned or was it a miracle? God, just to drive the point home, makes it rain as Jonas is leaving the town (the town desperately needed the rain for their crops). Jonas wanted a miracle, he got several.
This is a classic story about how faith, religion, and redemption drive meaning in the life of many people around the world—even when all else seems hopeless.
We rate the movie as follows:
Overall - 6
Meaning of Life Relevance - 4
Uniqueness – 5
Have you seen the movie? If so, comment below at the bottom of the page and let us know your thoughts.
PS: If you're into philosophy, read this Wikipedia article on Leap of Faith and its relation to Søren Kierkegaard.