Trying to Find Meaning in a Bolt From the Blue


Alex Hermant/Zeitgeist Films
Lighning is the star in Jennifer Baichwal's film “Act of God.”

In the wispy documentary “Act of God,” survivors of lightning strikes find metaphysical meaning in meteorological phenomena. The writer Paul Auster begs to differ.

Minus Mr. Auster’s pointed pragmatism, this insubstantial — if occasionally lovely — film would feel as random as its subject matter.

His childhood recollections of a summer camp tragedy, when a close friend was killed during an “absolutely meaningless” storm, bracket stories shadowed by survivor guilt and ennobled by divine interpretation. While others recount into-the-light experiences (including a former Marine and self-described bully who now runs an end-of-life care organization), Mr. Auster channels his sadness into words that provide an eloquent counterweight to the film’s unfocused mysticism.

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