The 2000 film, Chocolat (pronounced Shaw-ko-la, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp) is an interesting parable of contrasting views toward spirituality.
One of the main characters in the film, the mayor, desires to run a city based on his own understanding of morality and religious responsibility. He seeks perfection with vigor and zest.
The antithesis character of the mayor is Vianne (played by Binoche), a woman of some “mystery” who moves to the small town run by the mayor, with the intention of opening a chocolate shop. That she moves to this small town during Lent is no accident.
One of the main characters in the film, the mayor, desires to run a city based on his own understanding of morality and religious responsibility. He seeks perfection with vigor and zest.
The antithesis character of the mayor is Vianne (played by Binoche), a woman of some “mystery” who moves to the small town run by the mayor, with the intention of opening a chocolate shop. That she moves to this small town during Lent is no accident.
Vianne does not seek perfection from people, but goodness.
Thus, a conversion battle takes place between religion (the search for perfection) and spirituality (the search for transformation and goodness). Each convert people according the tenets of their convictions and the viewer witnesses the results of religion gone bad alongside spirituality’s ability to bring new life and new possibilities.
The film is not a “Christian” film per se, but it does have some fascinating parallels with the Christian story.
Today, in my Introduction to the Christian Faith class, we discussed this film (which our class watched Tuesday night) in great detail.
It’s amazing how much students come alive when talking about stories. They were engaged in ethical discourse without realizing it was “ethical discourse.” That’s what stories do to us. They draw us in because they engage our whole person—our hopes, dreams, fears, and memory—leaving us different. People who rarely talk in this kind of setting weighed on film’s commentary about faith, sex, marriage, parenting, discipline, beauty, and romance.
Bono is often quoted for saying, “Religion is what happens when God leaves.” I pray that the students under my care this semester become the kind of people who bear all kinds of healthy fruit into this starving world. I hope they are spiritually attuned to the presence of God in their lives and the lives of others.
The film is not a “Christian” film per se, but it does have some fascinating parallels with the Christian story.
Today, in my Introduction to the Christian Faith class, we discussed this film (which our class watched Tuesday night) in great detail.
It’s amazing how much students come alive when talking about stories. They were engaged in ethical discourse without realizing it was “ethical discourse.” That’s what stories do to us. They draw us in because they engage our whole person—our hopes, dreams, fears, and memory—leaving us different. People who rarely talk in this kind of setting weighed on film’s commentary about faith, sex, marriage, parenting, discipline, beauty, and romance.
Bono is often quoted for saying, “Religion is what happens when God leaves.” I pray that the students under my care this semester become the kind of people who bear all kinds of healthy fruit into this starving world. I hope they are spiritually attuned to the presence of God in their lives and the lives of others.
7 comments:
Is it silly to you that I'm jealous of all of the freshmen who get to take this class? You and Dr. Shelly need to co-teach an upper-level course.
agreed. my friend, kristian, is in that class and from what she told me, it sounds uber exciting.
Emily and Courtney,
Thanks for the kind words. There are other classes I'd take if I were you...like Stevenson's "Hollywood and Religion".
Check that one out.
No offense, but I don't see why the Old Testament and New Testament classes were replaced with a class of this format. These discussions have their place and time for upper division courses, but I'd much rather that new students learn some of the basics of the Bible. We have more and more students coming from public schools, and many of them lack basic knowledge of the Bible. It's a sad reality, but one that I think Rochester must confront.
David,
You raise a fair point. Just so you know...the other class Freshmen are required to take is "Survey of Biblical Literature"--an entire semester on a basic introduction to the genre's, plots, characters, themes, and principles of Scripture. Greg Stevenson is teaching that this semester.
What a great way to start the semester. This movie is in my top five of favorites.
Dana,
Welcome.
It is a great, great film. My students wrote excellent reflection papers on the film (contrasting spirituality and religion).
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