In Front | Signs and Esther

In the 2002 film Signs, Mel Gibson plays Graham Hess, a former Episcopal priest struggling with the tragic death of his wife and also trying to make sense of recent experiences. From crop circles to his daughter’s annoying habit of leaving glasses of water all over the house, to his wife’s last words—“Tell Merrill (Graham’s younger brother) to swing away”—Graham tries to piece it all together. 

While Graham and Merrill are discussing the crop circles, they consider the question: “What kind of person are you?” Graham describes two groups of people. On the one hand are those who perceive their experiences as more than mere coincidence. They see signs as evidence that someone is watching. On the other hand are those that see their experiences as mere chance. These people are fearful of what random chance may bring their way. 

Graham asks, “Are you the kind of person that sees signs, see miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or look at the question this way. Is it possible that there are no coincidences?”

Fast forward to the end of the movie: A hostile alien has taken Graham’s son. The alien is surrounded by Merrill, Graham and half-filled glasses of water. At that moment, Graham remembers his wife’s dying words, “Tell Merrill to swing away.” Graham relays the message to Merrill, who understands the significance of command. He grabs a nearby baseball bat and starts beating the alien. 

The alien is knocked into a shelf covered with the glasses of water. The water spills onto the alien and eats away at the alien’s skin, like acid. Further fighting ensues, and the alien is finally killed when a glass of water falls onto the alien’s face. 

Graham realizes that somehow, in a way that defied logical explanation, a number of experiences—signs—were working together, to bring him to a critical moment when he and his brother would save his family. 

Much has been said about how Esther does not mention God. But Esther includes a number of experiences—signs—that bring Esther and Mordecai to a critical moment when they would secure the salvation of their people.