The other night I was messing around with my StumbleUpon and I came across this video. It's titled "The Cathedral," which was created by Tomek Baginski.
What drew me to watching this video was the still they got of the scene where the branches sprouted from the individual's chest. It looked like a beautiful still shot and I was curious what it was about.
Now before I start talking about this, I would like to argue that this isn't the rebuilding of a specific religion, but rather what I see as religions striving to teach: humanity and goodness. I think that they chose the image of a cathedral as a way to represent that. Most people, at least where I'm from see church as a sign of kindness and of good people. Now this also may not be what the creator was intending but that is how I interpreted this video. Another point I would like to make is that the opinions expressed below are mere speculation of what the video means. I am of the opinion that each reader/viewer brings their own life to the table and that will manipulate their interpretations of the text they are involved in. I invite you to respond or post more ideas about this video below.
One of the first things I want to talk about is the setting. The traveler lives in a world where it's not clear whether it's a post-apocalyptic world (it certainly seems so) or a world just starting out (which can be assumed as well.) I think that it certainly could be seen as either way, especially once we see the entire film. Let's assume that this is a post-apocalyptic world, something terrible has happened and the world as been left desolated; however, there is this building on a cliff-side that travelers go to and it slowly is rebuilt, by the travelers. I get the sense that they knew where they were going and what was going to happen. If that is true, then these people were going to the Cathedral to sacrifice themselves to rebuild goodness/Humanity. Now, let's change settings, that we are watching the world as it is developing into what it is today. We see the traveler going into a building to create something good.
I was fascinated by how the Cathedral was developed. When I first watched saw all the faces within the pillars I became slightly paranoid. It might have something to do with the fact that it's five days from Halloween or just that it was a rather ominous sign. But then I saw the final face before it cut back to the Traveler, the old man. Where the other ones (and maybe this is because of my paranoia) looked intimidating, the old man looked peaceful, knowing. Maybe he's been there the longest (besides the one at the entrance), or maybe he's just the wisest. He eased my worry. And then after the Traveler joins them, it because obvious they were travelers just like our Traveler. They all sacrificed themselves to become the foundations for such a building. And the idea that they turned into columns (columns are usually used for structural support rather than for aesthetic reasons, therefore these travelers are important/strong beings) reinforces this idea that without these select travelers, there would be nothing. I want to point out what the building was structured out of, besides travelers obviously. The cathedral seemed to be made of wood, and I really liked this concept. If it had been made of stone I don't think it wouldn't have had the same effect. Wood is a very natural, warm substance. Wood is a very supportive material; for centuries, even now, we use wood to build homes, we use it to keep us warm and sheltered from the dangers of the world. Even before being cut down wood would shelter and become homes to animals who wish to seek refuge in its branches.
The last thing I want to talk about is the light that causes the Traveler to change into a column. At first I thought nothing about the large moon (it's not really clear what it is so for this sake I am going to call it a moon) that blocked out the light, until I got to the end. This is a ritual. The moon covering the light was the beginning of this ritual. Then when the moon had passed and the light came out, it appeared to be an enemy of our Traveler and of the cathedral. The faces at first showed pain or they hid away, possibly fearful of the light or just remembering the pain that sacrificed them. But the light, contrary to what I thought, was not a hindrance for the Traveler, but a necessity for him to transform, to help. It literally tore the Traveler apart, and seemingly killed him. As if called forth, the wood within the Traveler sprang forth to place its roots where needed. I think that the wood within us is the desire, the need, to do good. To create a place where others can find shelter. So instead of a foe, like I said earlier, the light is a necessity. I am of the thought of mind that in order to know happiness and joy, one must know sorrow, pain, fear. I believe that if one desires to live without sorrow, one will live an empty life. This light, the pain it caused, was a necessity for the Traveler to become a column, a building block for humanity.
I know we've all had problems or struggles in our lives, and I encourage you to look over what you have lost or struggled with and think about what you have learned from it...how it changed you. For the Traveler, he lost his life (this is only speculation since they seem to be living after the change, but not alive at the same time) but he became part of something greater.
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