Ethan Hawke on Flannery O'Connor's Christian Imagination

Novelist and short story writer Flannery O’Connor once said her life was too boring for a biographer-all she did was write and feed chickens. And yet, nearly 100 years after she was born, O’Connor’s life and faith are explored in Wildcat, a new film from actor, writer, and director Ethan Hawke of Training Day, First Reformed, and Dead Poets Society fame.
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[@PhilTomson]

I was introduced to Flannery O'Connor's work in technical school while working on an engineering degree circa 1982. They wanted us to be "well rounded" so they had us take classes like literature and history of interwar Germany. We tended to complain about having to take these kinds of classes - we wanted the hardcore engineering courses. But I really enjoyed this literature class - it was a nice break from calculus and circuit analysis. The professor was a black man with a booming voice. He'd start the class by saying "Now gentleman, let's leave behind the mundane issues of life and study literature, shall we?" (drawing out the 'munnnndannnne' and 'litttterature') It was an all male, mostly white class and I'm sure he could tell that there was some resistance. And he brought in these Flannery O'Connor short stories. And I was like "What... is... this...?" And after a while I was like "Oh, I think I know what the prof is up to here." and it was fun then to watch. And I've been an O'Connor fan ever since.

[@jasonraschen1109]

Sold! I will seek this movie out. Fantastic interview Russell. Bravo!

[@mattskionet]

This was a beautiful interview, thank you!

[@darlameeks]

You're such a great interviewer, Russell! I was first introduced to Ethan Hawke in "Gattaca" many years ago...loved it! I just finished "First Reformed" and "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"...have seen several other films of his, as well. Ethan's choices as an actor often involve stories of moral complexity, or the sinner's frailty in the face of temptations that almost no one could resist. His character in "Gattaca" embodies God's grace in that very flaws become his greatest source of victory. I'm a Catholic now, but I spent much of my life in the Evangelical movement..."First Reformed" got it right, and I'm just gutted! I'm a Flannery O'Connor fan, so I'm excited to see "Wildcat" as soon as possible!

[@merlinsenthil]

I’ve been studying Ethan and his interviews a lot recently. He’s so down to earth and wise. Really cool to see this.

[@flight007keith2]

What a great interview and what a great guy. So authentic! Well done Mr. Moore.

[@battlejitney2197]

Interesting interview. Well done.

[@patriciawhite6820]

I always enjoy your conversations.

[@sdm12342002]

If you haven't seen Hawke in "First Reformed," (written and directed by the brilliant Paul Schrader, who also did "Taxi Driver" and a whole host of incredible movies too numerous to list) do so. It's not an easy movie to watch, but I feel movies about faith, etc. shouldn't be.

[@robertpeterson5310]

Good Lord Bird was an awesome book and the mini series was great too. Ethan Hawke was a very believable John Brown.

[@cgpcgp3239]

I think I’ll see the movie.

[@2serve4Christ]

“Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during #slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or #apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing #genocide?’ “The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” - Aaron Bushnell (RIP) 🛐

[@christianman73]

Please stop spamming comment sections with the same comment. If you want to make a point, you could at least attempt to relate to the subject of the video here. Apparently, you weren't interested enough to even watch the video, much less attempt to relate it to your spamming comment.

[@dd41283]

It costs virtually nothing to claim Christianity today. It's actually financially lucrative here in the west to do so. But a time is coming where many will deny Christ because it will cost them their life.

[@GodsGadfly]

You need to interview Dean Koontz about Flannery O'Connor and her influence on his writing. 👍🦚

[@2serve4Christ]

“Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during #slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or #apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing #genocide?’ “The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” - Aaron Bushnell (RIP) 🛐