12 April 2009

Film and Easter in Dialog

Film is a powerful force in our culture. Period. We can lament about "Hollywood" and movies about sex, violence, and power (which begs the question: what do we do with the Bible?). The reality is, Hollywood makes movies to sell tickets. If a movie about a cartoon character would sell more than a Bruce Willis action adventure, Hollywood is going to go with the virtual character every time. And vice versa. It's really that simple.

Occasionally, you'll have the Hollywood movie that challenges the status quo, pushes the limits of "accepted cultural norms" (which is not always a good thing, of course). Normally, Hollywood is preoccupied with one thing: money, cash, cheese, the Benjamin's, jack.

Having said that, here are (at least) three recent films worth watching. The power of Christianity's Easter Story is found in the truth that God takes the worst of this world (death, disease, sickness, murder of the innocent, and suffering) and transforms it into "all things new" (new friendship, families, possibilities, purpose, hope). These three movies, in their own creative and unique way, capture the truth that humans possess the raw ability to take on the strength of that which we overcome. Of course, for me, it's the grace of God that catalyzes this movement.

1. Seven Pounds. The main character demonstrates that love truly is the most powerful force in the world. In an unlikely twist of events (which I predicted to my friend Adam at the ten minute mark . . . let's just say he hasn't sat next to me in a movie since), this film takes us beyond the shallow waters of self-preservation and security.

2. Bella. I just watched this film a few nights ago with some dear friends. I'm still speechless. A truly remarkable film, I'm awe-struck by the manner in which this film seeks to convince us that life consistently offers us ways in which we can "be good again" (to borrow language from The Kite Runner) no matter how bad our past might be. Set as a "day in the life" of a few average dwellers of the Big Apple, Bella has a healing pace, with one of the best soundtracks I've ever witnessed.

3. Gran Torino. Not for the faint of heart. Eastwood does a masterful job of capturing the sharp edges of living in Detroit, racism, stereo-types and the deterioration of family systems. However, the real genius of the film lies in its ability to show the power of laying down one's life for another. This movie, at least in one interpretive school, powerfully imagines a way in which the cycles of violence are quenched. Ironically, this "way" is the Jesus Way.

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Film is here to stay. It's shaping the language and meaning of life for many Americans. Christians don't have to swallow the bones, but we'd better understand why film is so meaningful and central. Moreover, how we might enter into the dialog happening all around us.

7 comments:

Robin said...

My wife and I watched Seven Pounds on our honeymoon (romantic, huh?) and it blew us away! What a great reminder of how treating people with respect and love can literally save lives.

Anonymous said...

Watched Bella for the first time with the Garners when I was in Uganda last summer. I have been meaning to pick it up and watch it again. Awesome message of healing.

Joe Haubenreich said...

I particularly like Josh's remark "...Christians don't have to swallow the bones." Just be aware of the bones and how difficult they sometimes are to avoid swallowing. As careful as I try to be when eating fish, I still up with a needle-sharp bone sticking in my throat every now and then.

Yes, money is a huge motivator for Hollywood. To attract investors, a producer must convince them that a film will net a healthy profit. But whether or not they have a chance of becoming box office hit, many are vehicles for the passions, biases, and agenda of the writers, directors, and producers... packaged in ways that make them palatable to consumers. Some serve good meat, but with bones that can inflict real damage.

Tim Perkins said...

The trouble is, Josh, that young people do swallow the bones and decide that, hey, if I saw it on the screen, it must be cool.

But then we've agreed to disagree on movies before, eh? And the NBA, and American League teams, etc.

Jonathan Storment said...

Nice new look Josh. I like the way Bono says this. Earlier Christians knew how visual we were, they invented the stained glass windows as the first "movies" as a way of telling the story of God.
I have learned a lot about the Kingdom of God by sitting in movie theater.

preacherman said...

I missed Easter services because I was ill. I have been reading Easter posts and have been encouraged by your post. Thank you for sharing this post with us all. Keep up the great work you do with your blog. I like the changes that you have made. It is so cool!!!!

phil said...

Kind of along similar lines to your post... do you (or anybody reading this)have any good recommendations for resources on the parables in the gospels?

P.S. I have BBT's "the seeds of heaven"