C.O.G. 2013

David, who goes by the name Samuel, finds himself at a crossroads while pursuing his graduate studies at Yale. In a bold move to break free from the monotony of his everyday life, he decides to take some time off for self-discovery. This journey leads him on a bus ride to Oregon, where he chooses to disconnect from his past, even going so far as to phone his mother to inform her of his decision to sever ties temporarily. His aspirations of embarking on this adventure are somewhat marred by the fact that his girlfriend had planned to accompany him, only to change course and ride off with another man she has since grown fond of.

Upon arriving in Oregon, Samuel gets a job picking apples, but he quickly realizes he is part of a team largely composed of Mexican workers. Samuel struggles to bridge the language barrier, as he speaks almost no Spanish and the workers have limited English skills. Despite these challenges, he makes an effort to connect with Pedro, one of his co-workers, although whether this attempt truly blossoms into friendship remains uncertain. On the job, Samuel’s boss, Hobbs—a man lacking in kindness—unexpectedly shows a moment of compassion when he grants Samuel the trailer of his deceased nephew, who was also working at the apple processing plant before his tragic passing. Hobbs even offers Samuel the opportunity to fill his nephew’s position, yet the environment is bleak, with fellow workers appearing indifferent to socializing.

Among the apple picking crew, Samuel finds a glimmer of friendliness in Curly, who proves to be warm-hearted. However, Curly harbors a secret that hinders a deeper friendship from forming. This sense of foreboding clouds Samuel’s experience as it becomes evident that his journey may lead him to inevitable confrontations with his beliefs and the nature of human connections.

Earlier in his travels, Samuel encountered Jon, a passionate young man distributing literature pertaining to C.O.G. (Christ on the Green), an organization encouraging people to embrace a relationship with Christ. Samuel expresses disdain for this missionary zeal, suggesting that he perceives religion as a crutch for those in search of significance, repeatedly dismissing the idea of chasing after the so-called “ghosts” that religious followers pursue.

As fate would have it, Samuel’s paths entwine once more with Jon, who is described as artistic and lives in the basement of a congregational community, crafting unique Oregon-shaped jade clocks. Jon, with his own tumultuous past, has found solace and direction in religion—something Samuel grapples with.

The lingering questions hover over Samuel’s journey: Will he find the spiritual guidance he has been deliberately avoiding? Can the connection with Jon endure beyond their initial encounters, or will Samuel retreat back to his old life devoid of meaning? As he sifts through these profound dilemmas, the possibility of returning to a life filled with normalcy looms large, but it seems that Samuel’s venture into the depths of his soul will leave an indelible mark on his identity.