Luke McDade: The Deus Behind Groundhog Day 1-12-10

The discussion arose in class as to whether Phil Connors was truly changed at the end of the film Groundhog Day. The argument was posited that he simply found another way to manipulate everyone into liking him, instead of finding the true transcendent happiness implied at the end of the film. What, I believe, fails to be recognized is the background architect behind Phil's loop in time. Who, or what, is orchestrating this great repetition? If it is God, then He would be aware if Phil was simply cheating the system or if he had truly changed his life perspective. Therefore, Phil would have been unable to break the cycle of chronos unless he truly felt the transcendent reality. There had to have been a background architect behind Phil's experience in order for the cycle to be broken without Phil's conscious effort or knowledge. Phil is clearly surprised when he wakes up on Feb 3 and he looks upon the new day as a blessing. God, as it were, allowed Phil to come upon the realization of the sacred (to excuse the pun) in his own time. Why is Phil apparently unaware of this background architect? He even states in the film, "I am a God." The only glimpse the audience gets of Phil's acknowledgment of a higher being is in the scene wherein the Old Man dies in the alleyway. He tries CPR, but finally stops and simply looks upward as if asking, "Is this your will God?" I ask the class, what is the Deus behind Groundhog Day? Is it Phil's own mind/soul? Is it God? Is it the balance that must exist between sacred and profane time in everyone?