The Apostle 1997

Euliss F. “Sonny” Dewey is a charming Pentecostal preacher whose life spirals into chaos when he discovers that his wife, Jessie, has engaged in an affair with a youth minister named Horace. Despite Sonny’s heartfelt attempts to reconcile, Jessie remains steadfast, assuring him that while she won’t obstruct his right to see their children, she has covertly devised a plan to use the church’s bylaws to purge him from his position. Feeling abandoned and seeking divine guidance, Sonny finds that God remains silent. As the tension escalates, a significant portion of the congregation sides with Jessie, leaving Sonny isolated.

Refusing to abandon his church, which he believes is rightfully “his,” Sonny’s anguish boils over during a children’s Bible camp softball game. In a fit of emotional turmoil fueled by alcohol, he violently confronts Horace, inflicting serious harm that ultimately leads to the latter’s death.

In a desperate bid to escape, Sonny discards his car in a river and obliterates any trace of his former life. He reinvents himself as “The Apostle E. F.” and flees to the bayous of Louisiana. There, he encounters a retired minister named Blackwell, who agrees to help him establish a new congregation. While juggling various odd jobs to fund this venture, Sonny’s fervor helps him secure a local radio spot where he begins to preach.

Sonny’s contagious spirit and magnetic personality quickly attract a dedicated and racially diverse following. In a remarkable transformation, he even reaches out to a prejudiced construction worker, turning a potential conflict at a church picnic into a moment of unity. However, his personal life takes another hit when he spots his new girlfriend publicly reunited with her husband and children, prompting him to vow never to return to the diner where he worked.

As Sonny’s radio sermons grow in popularity, Jessie tunes in and promptly informs the authorities about her estranged husband. The police arrive during one of Sonny’s evening services but allow him to conclude his sermon before apprehending him. In a heart-wrenching finale, Sonny delivers an impassioned message to his devoted congregation, only to face an uncertain future. The film closes with Sonny, now a member of a chain gang, continuing to preach to fellow inmates along the roadside, reaffirming his unyielding faith amidst adversity.