Movies
One
could say that, on one hand, the art of filmmaking inhales the air of societies
and cultures and on the other hand, exhales the air of interpretation and
consequences. The media is often
symbolic. Select one of the following
movies (or any other that you might choose) and use it as a tool to deepen your
understanding of the Triune God.
With each movie you view, you might ask yourself, within the context of the Triune God, the following questions:
Where
do I fit in the picture?
How
does the picture represent my beliefs? e.g. What are my beliefs about God, about people, about the
earth, about what is material or spiritual?
As
the viewing raises my consciousness, what do I want to affirm in myself, what
do I want to affirm about society and/or what do I want to change in myself or
in society?
If
the picture seems to be pure entertainment, what might be some hidden messages?
Does
the film call me to action?
To share additional movies, please use the
options under “Share Your Experience.”
“Bruce Almighty”
2003. 102 minutes.
Although there is no reference to a Triune God, the film helps us reflect on a concept of God. For example, some people’s notion of God is a Mr. Fix-it.
Jim Carrey (Bruce Nolan), comedian that he is, often has some deeper truth underlying his words although his style may be rather manic to some.
After a particularly bad day in which he loses his job and is beaten up when he offers to help someone, Bruce challenges God to do something. God, appearing in human form, gives Bruce his power for a week, challenging him to see if he can do a better job of things. Very quickly, Bruce discovers that things are not as easy to fix as he imagined. He even sees how people’s different prayers conflict with each other and end up tearing his community apart.
“Bruce Almighty” raises some common questions:
Why
do disasters happen?
How
is it that so often it seems that some people endure suffering while others live lives of luxury?
Could
it be that we are asking the wrong questions based on a distorted picture of
God?
What
is the meaning of “you be the miracle”?
“The Truman Show”
1998 103 min.
You may want to watch another Jim Carrey movie. Be surprised at the very end when the truth of what is real and what is not, becomes evident. Then you will be able to understand Jim’s earlier actions. There are many symbolisms:
Name
means true man
Burbank
– NBC – TV studios in
Studio
light falls from the sky like Apostle Paul being struck by a heavenly light
Sea
– what is to be feared, evil, chaos, death
The
mast of the boat reminds us death on a cross
Death-resurrection
139
= Psalm 139
Dalmatian
– Disney world, film
Questions:
Do
we, in subtle ways, believe that we are being watched (filmed, televised) by
God every second of the day?
How
does Truman come to know true love? Does
this love come close to what we imagine within the Trinity? How could you describe your love of the
triune God?
How
does TV control society today? How does
it try to keep us in a fantasy world?
“Babette’s Feast”
Danish & French, English subtitles.
Babette, a superb French chef comes
to live among a pious congregation on the desolate coast of
The preacher of the Congregation expresses some words of deep faith such as:
God dwells here with those who trust in him.
God’s paths run beyond where no one sees.
God is always in our hearts
God always forgives. Mercy is infinite.
Even though life was hard, they came together to worship and sing praises to God.
Questions for discussion:
What
kept the faith alive for the Congregation even after the Preacher died?
What
kind of faith does Babette have?
With
whom can you identify? Martina, Phillipa, Babette, other? Why?
How
did their lives speak of the life and love of a triune God
More Movie Possibilities
Johnston,Robert
K. Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue (Engaging Culture.)
In view of the increasingly powerful role that movies play
in our cultural dialogue, Robert K. Johnston, professor of theology and culture
at Fuller Theological Seminary, has written a book to guide Christian
moviegoers into a theological analysis of and conversation with film.
Greely, Andrew. God
in the Movies.
This book attempts to help
ordinary people explore how popular movies also contain religious imagery.
Helps readers recognize religious themes and
great variety of metaphors reflected in popular movies.
Anker Roy M. Catching Light:
Looking for God in the Movies.
Most books about "God in the movies" promote
methods for finding God in the medium. This book instead illustrates the
search for God in film. The book addresses
a pluralistic audience even while capitalizing on the author's connections from
the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Crash
Millions
13th Floor
The Three Burials
March of the Penguins
Chocolat
Dead Man Walking
The Matrix
The
Life is Beautiful
Ulee’s Gold