The Apostle Character Analysis

Robert Duvall’s The Apostle (1997) is a film which depicts the modern religious man. The Apostle E.F. (played by Duvall) is met with scrutiny and doubt in the beginning of the film, eventually leading him to loose his standing in the congregation, act out violently and leave town all together. The citizens of the town do not understand or respect his religious fervor, however, in his new community, found in Bayou Butte, he begins to make positive change through God. The Apostle E.F. comes into the town as a stranger, the audience is aware of his sorted past, but the people whom he is helping are only aware of his good intention and charisma. This is extremely important. He is constantly seeking redemption from his past. Despite many lapses in judgment and his questionable moral character, he always …show more content…
Billy Bob Thornton’s character, credited only as “Troublemaker,” was initially introduced as a trigger for the Apostle E.F. to fall back into his old and violent habits allowing the citizens of Bayou Butte to get a glimpse of who he was before becoming the Apostle E.F. However, the Troublemaker comes back, and he is able to show the drastic difference between Sonny and the Apostle E.F. By speaking to the Troublemaker as a man and using God to help him through his twisted way, the Apostle E.F. shows that kindness and love can be a far more powerful tool than violence. This moment in the film is pivotal. It is wildly important that this is a public occurrence so that the people of Bayou Butte can begin taking their faith into their own hands after being witness to this act. If the Apostle E.F. attempted to do this in private, it would not have been successful. The communal strength demonstrated by these people indicates that they are in fact growing and developing into a joined unit around the Apostle E.F. However, because of this unity when he leaves, the community will