The Man Who Sued God (2001)

The Man Who Sued God (2001) (DVD) (*)

$24.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Australian Film Institute

Language Selections:
Dutch ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
English ( Dolby Surround )

Product Origin/Format:
Netherlands ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
97 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2001 and produced in:
Australia ( Australia, New Zealand )

Directed By:
Mark Joffe

Written By:
John Clarke
Don Watson

Actors:
Billy Connolly ..... Steve Myers
Judy Davis ..... Anna Redmond
Colin Friels ..... David Myers
Wendy Hughes ..... Jules Myers
Bille Brown ..... Gerry Ryan
John Howard ..... Edward Piggott
Emily Browning ..... Rebecca Myers
Blair Venn ..... Les
Vincent Ball ..... Cardinal
Tim Robertson ..... Judge Bonaface
Linal Haft ..... Rabbi
Peter Whitford ..... Moderator
Frank Whitten ..... Primate
Steve Jacobs ..... Hal
Richard Carter ..... Dirk Streicher

Synopsis:

Advocate Steve Myers is disillusioned with the lies and deception he experiences in Court and decides to quit. He invests money in a small yacht and goes off sailing. Then one day he wakes up to find his yacht has been struck by lightning and totaled. He informs his insurance company, who review and then subsequently decline his claim on the grounds that they are not liable as his yacht was destroyed due to an 'Act of God'. With no money to finance another yacht, Steve dramatically files a claim against God, naming the Pope and the local Bishop as representatives of God, and thereby the respondents. The Pope, the Bishop, their respective lawyers, as well as their insurance company get together to find a way to settle this dilemma, which does catch the fancy of the media. It is in Court that God's representatives will have to admit that Steve's yacht was actually His Act, accept it, and compensate him, or deny it altogether, and thereby deny His existence, and leave the onus on Steve to prove his claim.

Directed by Mark Joffe, Australia's The Man Who Sued God centers around Steve (Billy Connelly), an ex-lawyer who is unable to collect insurance money for his destroyed boat. Deeming the accident an 'act of God,' Steve decides to sue the man at the root of his problem -- namely, God. Anna (Judy Davis), a jaded journalist who took a particular interest in Steve's case, decides to help him out on his quest to collect from the almighty. The movie raises a host of philosophical issues, some of which include who should represent God in court, who pays up should God be convicted, and the status of Steve's eternal soul. The Man Who Sued God also features Vincent Ball and Billie Brown.

Billy Connolly plays Steve Myers, a lawyer who became a fisherman from frustration. When his one piece of property, his boat, is struck by lightning and destroyed he is denied insurance money because it was 'an act of God'. He re-registers as a lawyer and sues the insurance company and the church under the geise of God, defending himself. The accident leads him to a friendship and eventual relationship with a journalist, Anna Redmond (Davis).

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 17 February, 2011.