Freedom without responsibility, is not a real freedom. To be free does not take away our responsibility for each other. The message is clear in the movie about the Fast Folks. We are responsible for our own kin, our people, our family. We are called to care for the community we belong to, are part of.
There are many issues addressed in the movie. Unlimited freedom is simultaneously praised and criticized. The family concept is broadened in the spirit of Jesus and Paul. The family is all who are willing to belong. The multicultural reality is taken seriously, as Wesley Morris has pointed out, f.x. in an interview NPR.
God is presented as the father who cares and protects us. The movie also gives glimpses into the “community of believers”, one could almost say “the church”, that are worth looking at.
The image of God, presented by Dominic (the main caracter) is a god, who is up there. It is an image of God, the father. The movie is not concerned about academical political correctness or inclusive language when it comes to god. Dominic’s god is most visible in the story Dominic tells of his own father. He describes how his father grilled after the worship service every Sunday and invited all to gather around the table. All meaning, all how participated in the worship. Dominic describes his father as the one how always had the time to sit down with the children, prepared to give them all the love and attention the craved for.
Dominic’s image of god is not in any way “universal”, there is no indication that all are going to recieve god’s grace. The room at table is reserved for those participating in the worship, not the others. Of course all are welcome to the worship service, but if you don’t attend, don’t expect to get food. All can become part of god’s family, but there is nothing in the movie indicating that all will become, just the opposite.
The movie does not address the need to confess our faith, the only issue is whether we choose to belong to the community. It is not about creeds or deeds, it is only about belonging. Dominic’s god is not the god of grace, but a god of blessings and protection. If you belong to god’s family, god is with you all.
The conflict between the fast folks and the corrupt government. The fact that the fast folks live among the poor, but not in a fancy hotels and how the marginal community protects them from the outside powers, has some resonance with Liberation Theology. The broken fence by the beach and the small beach cabin in the end, gives an image of Dominic as a humble and moderate person. Someone who wants to stand with those on the margin.
Fast Five mirrors first and formost “boyish theology”, not necessarily Christian “boyish theology”, but a unitarian theology, that is all but “universal”. All can be saved, but they have to come forward to god, and by the way, god is a good dad. He gives blessings, he protects, he is there for us always, when we are happy or sad. The god of the Fast Folks wants us to be responsible and he wants us to act. He wants us to do what is good.
And finally. There is a lot of action, explosions, car chases, more explosions, and even more car chases. And action.
(Originally written in Icelandic in May 2011. Roughly translated into English in September 2011. Sorry for the grammar and spelling errors.)