Breaking the Cycle | Revisiting Is God Is (2026)

What happens when revenge becomes your identity? And what does healing look like when you’ve spent your entire life carrying someone else’s pain as well as your own?This week on The Cinematic Soul Podcast, I’m joined by Ang B Freely to unpack one of the most fascinating films I’ve watched in a long time: Is God Is!From the complicated relationship between Racine and Anaia to the film’s use of fire, faith, trauma, and retribution, we explore the layers beneath the story and why its message lingers long after the credits roll. Aleshea Harris did her BIG ONE! We also discuss the transition from stage to screen, and why breaking a cycle can be harder than continuing one.Follow Ang:Instagram: @angbfreelySubstack: @angbfreelyFollow The Cinematic Soul Podcast:Instagram: @cinematicsoulpodThreads: @cinematicsoulpodYouTube: @cinematicsoulpodChapters00:00 Introduction and first impressions of Is God Is00:56 The film’s genre and lasting impact01:25 Meet Ang B Freely02:20 Why storytelling matters07:09 Reactions to the ending09:23 Revenge and the cost of retribution11:35 Sisterhood and character differences16:52 Fire symbolism and spiritual meaning26:35 Trauma, memory, and haunting imagery34:34 Adapting the play for the screen42:40 Stage versus film storytelling43:49 The rhythm of the play and its influence