Lightning inspires awe in some, fear in others—and nothing at all in a few. But there are a number of people whose lives have been forever altered by their close encounters with lightning. Jennifer Baichwal offers a sophisticated and captivating new work that explores the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning that gives voice to those lucky enough to have lived through it. Traveling across the globe, Baichwal captures an astonishing array of harrowing stories of lightning strikes, and uncovers a vast range of responses to the incident—for some it is a freak and unfortunate accident, for others it is their fate or God’s will, and for a rare few more a glimpse into death and a miraculous return to the living. Yet the connection among all of Baichwal’s subjects is their ongoing quest for meaning in their encounters with a force far beyond human dimension, even if this quest for meaning is a deliberate abstaining of interpretation. Blending stunning cinematography with fascinating aural accounts from the likes of esteemed author Paul Auster and improvisational guitarist Fred Frith, from a mother who lost her child and a man who lost his friend, and ordinary men and women who, in some cases, become extraordinary (or so they believe) after being struck by lightning, ACT OF GOD offers us a chance to reexamine the majesty and force of nature that surrounds us, while exploring how we make meaning of something that, at times, defies our understanding.

Filmmaker Q&A

Introduce yourself:
I was born in Montreal, grew up on the west coast in Victoria and now live and work in Toronto. I have been making documentaries with my husband Nick de Pencier for 15 years.  

What inspired this film?   How did you find your subjects?
We read James O. Reilly’s monologue, ACT OF GOD, about his existential crisis after being struck by lightning as a young man. Then Michael Ondaatje introduced us to Paul Auster, who was struck when a teenager at camp. Somehow the event seems to precipitate questions about the relationship between meaning and randomness, so we thought of making a film that focused on the metaphysics rather than the physics. We did research on and off for a few years before finding the seven stories that are in the film, each of which responds to the question in a different way.

What were some of the biggest challenges/surprises?
We shot most of the storm footage ourselves— carried the camera around with us everywhere we went for two years. Filming something as fleeting as lightning— a fraction of a second— was a challenge. And being around such a powerful force— millions of volts of electricity--- was humbling and scary. But it was the subjects who shared their stories with us that brought the most intensity.

Who are some of your favorite filmmakers?
Chris Marker, Werner Herzog, Chantal Ackerman, Donald Brittain

What is your all time favorite documentary?
It’s a toss up between SANS SOLEIL and VOLCANO: AN INQUIRY INTO THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MALCOLM LOWRY.

What other projects are in the pipeline?
Adapting Margaret Atwood’s Payback with the NFB

Why did you become a filmmaker?
Because film has the capacity to move people intellectually, emotionally, viscerally, and spiritually— all at the same time.

What are some of your creative influences?
Too many to enumerate!

Did you go to film school?
No

What do you shoot on?
16mm, super 16mm, various video formats, HD.

What has been the most unexpected thing to happen since taking the film on the festival circuit?
The number of lightning stories! The odds are about 1 in 600,000 but many people we have met have either had a direct experience or know someone who has.

Why did you want to screen your film at SILVERDOCS?
Because Sean Farnel said it was a great festival...