The film Timbertown depicts the book of Ecclesiastes played out through the lives of a lumberjack, a DNR and a sorrowing widow, with a homeless man literally declaring the words of the scripture throughout the film. Set against the backdrop of a rural logging town, the film opens with the sorrowing widow placing flowers on a grave. We then back track in time to first reports of a missing pastor. As the story unfolds, we discover that he’s not highly respected in the community, with reports of racial prejudice and an addiction to porn through girly magazines.
Cut to Verl, a lumberjack out in the field working hard to provide for the needs of his family, which is creating strife in his marriage and family as he misses church and important moments in his daughter’s life. Ned, a DNR agent stops by, accusing him of cutting into the territory of a nature preserve. Verl is able to prove his innocence, but while the DNR agent is nearby, Verl discovers the dead body of the pastor in the woods. The discovery leads to a conversation about the agent’s spiritual condition and eternal salvation, which Ned, who prides himself on his worldly knowledge, scoffs at.
In an effort to prove his worth as an agent, Ned takes it upon himself to investigate the murder, which leads him to a trailer where he suspects criminal activity. He is shot by drug dealers and left, bleeding out until found by a woman who presents the gospel to him in an effort to help him find peace before he dies.
Intertwined in this story is the story of a young couple in love, played out with an underscore of music as he leads her to faith in Christ and they eventually marry. It’s a happy life, until the day the man is traveling and is hit head on by the pastor who is preoccupied with a girlie magazine on the seat of his car. The woman falls into deep despair which leads to drinking and eventually to her decision to retaliate and bring harm to the pastor. She goes to the church to cut wires in his car, but becomes remorseful and decides against the action. At that time, however, the pastor comes out of the church, notes that she has his briefcase with the incriminating magazine and fights to get it back. As she attempts to get away, he falls and she drives over him, killing him. She hides the body – and now lives with the guilt of killing a man.
Through a series of eye-opening circumstances, the lumberjack realizes his misplaced priorities and joins his family in church. The woman comes to a point of deep sorrow and repentance and decides to turn herself in. The story ends with the blessing of fearing God and obeying his commands played out in the final scenes of the film’s key characters. A film that shows the dark consequences of sin, it also reveals the redemption that God can work in a person’s life when they acknowledge their errors and commit their lives into His hands.
Due to sexual conduct from the church pastor, and his lack of remorse, mixed with racial prejudice, this film isn’t suitable for a young audience. However, the heavy Christian elements grant this film Dove-approval for Ages 18+.
The Dove Take
The film is a strong representation of the book of Ecclesiastes, showing the consequences of sin and the redemption possible through godly sorrow that leads to true repentance.
