The Paths of Perdition on Arte: the double meaning behind the title of the film


Broadcast this evening on Arte, directed by Sam Mendes, “The Paths of Perdition” follows the tumultuous journey of Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) and his son. A quest for revenge and redemption, the title of which has a double meaning.

The second feature film by Sam Mendes broadcast this evening on Arte, Les Sentiers de la perdition plunges us into the Chicago of the Great Depression, right in the middle of the Irish mafia, and takes us on a perilous journey, undertaken by a father and his son following a terrible tragedy.

Tom Hanks masterfully plays Michael Sullivan, henchman and protege of the mob boss John Rooney, played by an excellent Paul Newman.

When the latter’s son, played by Daniel Craig, exterminates Michael’s family to cover his tracks, the gangster played by Tom Hanks is forced to leave town with his surviving boy. Seeking to shelter him while ruminating on his revenge, he then sets off on the roads of America, chased by a formidable hitman.

This dangerous, eventful and metaphorical journey gives the feature film its original title, Road to Perditionwhich can be interpreted in two different ways.

Indeed, ironically, the city to which Michael Sullivan and his son are heading is called Perdition. They therefore borrow, in a way that could not be more literal, the “path to Perdition”.

20th Century Fox

But, while Sam Mendes’ film regularly tackles the subject of faith and religion, perpetually adorned with Catholic imagery, this title can also take on a spiritual meaning. Religiously speaking, the notion of “perdition” also evokes damnation and Hell: a path that Michael Sullivan thinks he himself has taken, but that he tries to avoid for his son throughout the film.

In the production notes for the feature film, Tom Hanks said this about his character:

“The message from Michael the father to Michael the son is: ‘You have to choose the path you want to walk in this life, but don’t choose the one I’ve been on all my life. Somewhere in my past, I have made a choice to go in a certain direction, and it leads to perdition.'”


20th Century Fox

“Michael Sullivan sees himself as having been put on the road to Hell”adds director Sam Mendes.

“Now he’s in a fight for his son’s soul. Can a man who’s led a bad life achieve redemption through his child? That’s one of the central questions the film asks.”

(Re)discover our Top 5 duos between children and criminals…



Source link -103