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Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
Seeing Christ in Films: Part I
Effective Books Presenting the Gospel to Non-Christians
I AM LEGEND! Will Smith played the part of Savior. Beacuse of humans “playing God”, and for their “sin” (both mentioned in the film itself), the world came into chaos. However, Will Smith, stayed on ground zero and waited to find a cure for man’s mistakes, and waiting for those who are lost to find him. At some point in the film he even says, “The cure is in the blood.” 😀
Schindler’s List was a huge challenge for me, particularly at the end of the film when Schindler realised how he could have saved so many more people with the money he had to buy their freedom! He was so devastated and it was so sad and challenging as it really cut to the heart. Made me stop and think that we have so much to give others, so much we can give others, and all that we do have, comes from God.
One of my all-time favorites Frank is Shawshank Redemption! Top 5 ever! The connection to what Christ went through to gain our freedom…”he crawled through 500 yards of the worst smell…” What an incredible way to depict captivity and the “story” of God’s plan for mankind for freedom! It is difficult to support a movie that has such immoral things in it, but a great friend of mine, a former convict tells me that that story is just about identical to real prison life! Anyways…I have some others but Shawshank would be the most ideal for me…
How many films yet to watch…I’ll go for at least a few of the recommendations. I agree with comments on Schindler’s List, Braveheart and The Matrix. Lord of the Rings as well.
I had a great “This is God!” experience watching Die Hard 4.0. When John McClane’s daughter was kidnapped, I really saw the Father’s zealous and jealous love for us in the way he reacted. And he literary risked his own life in trying to rescue her. Like Jesus did. And how precious are we not to him, Psalm 17:8 – when someone tries to do us harm, it’s like sticking the finger in God’s eye.
Hayao Miyazaki’s “My Neighbor Totoro” has a wonderful story of a small girl’s disturbance beeing away from her mother, eventually making her go away to the hospital where she’s staying, alone, without being able to quite consider the distance or difficulties. To me, this was like us humans really being orphans away from God. This film is a beautiful, wondrous animated masterpiece.
One of the most moving (!) scenes I’ve ever seen in a move, is Lucy’s discovery of the wardrobe, and her unvailing it, in the 2005 film The Lion, the Wich and the WardrobeTears burst from my eyes seeing the trailer at cinema, and of course watching the film later. She really had discovered the greatest secret of all.
There have been lots of movies I’ve caught a glimpse of Christ in, but the one that comes to mind first is Dead Man Walking. It’s more obvious than some with its spiritual content, but I was moved by its redemptive theme, and its honest treatment—it didn’t avoid the hard stuff—of it.
I especially remember the scene, right at the end of the movie, where Sean Penn’s character is elevated on the table, with his arms out. and the deadly serum being administered to him runs out. A red light comes on, saying ‘finished’. I’m sure it was an intentional reference to Christ on the cross saying ‘It is finished.’
Still one of my favourite movies.
Actually I agree with Peter regarding The Kingdom of Heaven. Also and I don’t know if I am on the right track here but I saw God in the particularly disturbing film Schindler’s List. At the end after Oskar Schindler had rescued the 1200 or so Jewish people he pointed to the gold membership badge he had on his jacket and said he could have bought two more people with that badge. Two more people! Thank you Lord for Oskar Schindler.
I just finished reading Reflections On The Movies: Hearing God in the Unlikeliest of Places, by Ken Gire, so, how neat to see a post of a similar topic from you! A few movies through which the heart of God has touched me deeply are: Beaches (the power of friendship), Sister Act (the throwing off of religious constraints = freedom in Christ!), The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness (self-sacrifice & following one’s passion), Amazing Grace & Amadeaus (compassion and justice for those who are outside the margins of the mainstream of society). Love your blog!
Frank
Thanks for adding that thought to the Inception movie. I remember thinking the same thing when I saw it but forgot about that part. I love the visual.
Carrie
Les Miserables for sure.. incredible story of how grace triumphs and is the power of God to transform our hardened hearts.
CRASH.. i saw this movie when it first came out and have not been able to get it out of my head. It’s incredibly raw and vulgar at times, but I loved how it portrayed the depravity in us all and how we were all connected and impacted in some way by the choices of others. I couldn’t help being humbled by it and expressing my gratitude and praise to God that he would come to redeem us and rescue us from ourselves.
i would say “Man on Fire”
Creasy is a man of little faith and great vengeance. I won’t spoil the movie for you, but it’s one of my absolute favorites. Along with a beautiful story of redemption, the performances by Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning are amazing, and the cinematography and artistic choices put it in my top 5 of all time.
There was a movie I saw on the life of Helen Keller a few years ago that was a very powerful presentation, in my mind, of the compassion of our Lord in his daily dealings with us. Helen was this incorrigable child, defiant, deaf, dumb and blind. I saw myself in Helen Keller and marveled at my Lord’s patience with me. There was a scene in which Ann Sullivan, her teacher, was trying to spell into Helen’s hand the word “water.” Helen just wasn’t getting it. Then Ann took Helen to this water pump and began pumping spring water into Helen’s hand and then again spelled the word “w-a-t-e-r” into her hand and Helen was filled with such joy in “getting it,” as was Ann. Our Lord must be experienced to be understood. Ann to me was a picture of the Holy Spirit in such patience with us on so many levels. The parents kept intruding thinking Ann was teaching amiss and being a bit rough on Helen and Ann told them that she needed complete control over everything that goes on in Helen’s life–without intrusions, and so the parents left Helen completely in Ann’s capable hands. The outcome of course is that Helen was returned to them a different child, remade and transformed by Helen’s wonderful tutelage and grace-filled patience.
Another recent movie that had me weeping like a baby was “Amish Grace.” The power of forgiveness as demonstrated by Christ through these dear people is simply not of this earth, nor can it be understood by anyone but a believer.
And then there’s “Tuesday’s With Morrie,” another personal favorite that I find filled with Christ-like pathos, of a soul that simply loved to dance and insisted that whatever we do, we need to “forgive everybody for everything.”
Ace Ventura, Pet Detective tempted me to think that God may bring judgment all across the earth immediately, but then I was able to rest in some scriptures and lean into them as opposed to my fear over the movie.
All of the above are great but here’s a few more not yet mentioned:
Moulin Rouge — I first watched this because Hollywood Jesus pointed out the parallels to the Lord’s love for us. I cried. It makes me think of the prophet Hosea too, who was called to marry a prostitute. While we were yet sinners Christ loved us.
Cinderella — this story is woven into the fabric of the universe, I like to say. Do you know that virtually every major culture on earth has this story, with just a few details changed? Kudos to my friend Bill Newkirk for pointing out to me years ago that it is the story of Christ and His Bride. Cinderella is the Bride in Her purity — sinless with no spot or wrinkle.
The Princess Bride: True love never dies! Christ wins our heart, forgives our lack of faith, and rescues us from every danger — especially from bondage to the destroyer.
Babette’s Feast — this is about someone trying to break others out of legalism with extravagant generosity. It meant alot to me as I have been loved, helped and supported by a very strict group like the one in the movie and in return would love to give them an experience of the Lord’s freedom and joy like in the movie. When we give up our pet rules, we can finally come to the feast that Christ spreads before us.
Dr. Who — the last of the Time Lords continually sacrifices himself to save humans. Two episodes stand out — the finale of David Tenant’s stint as the doctor in the specials after
Season 4 ; and an episode with one of the best ever depictions of church life being ruined by the entrance of clergy by any other name (also with David Tenant)– Season 2: Love and Monsters. Starfish had a clip from this up with this interpretation, so credit goes to them.
Harry Potter; Deathly Hallows Part 2: I understand why some are against these stories, but for those who indulge and don’t already know the ending, it has extremely powerful and intentional parallels to Christ’s sacrifice for and protection of us. Also the power of offering forgiveness and redemption to the wicked until the very last, so there is no excuse when their destruction finally comes by their own stupid persistance. Hopefully all this will shine through in the movie.
I could go on all day! Great topic.
You would not believe this and I hope that I am not totally being thought of as Crazy but the Movie “Monster Versus Aliens” has this scene in it where Susan (aka Ginormica ) begins to grow and breaks out of the “church” building, it was interesting because as the Bride of Christ we don’t fit in a small building! I thought of the organic church.
Secondly she was rejected by her earthly love when he didnt want her anymore because she was strange, and thrown into a band of rejects monsters, “peculiar people” 1 peter 2:9 who though rejected by all was loyal to saving mankind from alien assault.
Thirdly, she was given great power from on high and had to fight a evil forces who wanted to destroy and enslave all of mankind that’s on Earth. Her power continued to grow against any wiles the enemy sent, for example destroying a giant robot that was waybigger than her.”Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world!”(1 john 4:4 ) But the true test is when she fully realized the power that she was given to change the world and to protect it from enslavement, she was able to destroy the enemy alien force. “Scriptures said They over came the accuser by the Blood of the Lamb the word of their testimony and didnt love their lives to death.” (Revelation 12:11) My kids love this movie.
“Contact” – both the book and the film…Carl Sagan had a revelation of Jesus, can’t convince me otherwise…
Well now you know 2 believers who definitely didn’t see that in Seven Pounds!!! LOL So we can agree to disagree, right?
My personal favorite movie of all time is the entire Lord of the Ring series… I see so much in there spiritually speaking – not just Christ himself – but the struggles of evil in ourselves, persevering when we’d rather give up, noble actions and thoughts, encouraging each other on the path while understanding we might not all be on the same leg of the journey but same destination – as when Frodo parts company with the fellowship and Aragorn accepts that he needs to do that, and they go on to look for Merry and Pippen…Just a profound series in so many, many ways…
Gladiator: The scene where he kills Comodus and is bleeding to death and calls on the preatorian guard to free his men, is like the sacrifice of Christ enacted again.
The Kingdom of Heaven: particularly when the father answers his son’s question, ‘Can I find forgiveness in Jerusalem?’ by saying ‘We can find out together!’ speaks of God’s Father heart towards us all.
And Lord of the Rings: Particularly the trailer for The Fellowship of the Ring – it speaks a similar tale to that of Christ as he invaded earth to rescue us from the evil that held us in thrall.
An old classic film: The life of Emile Zola. Zola sacrifices his very glory, strengh, health, etc, to get captain Dreyffuss free.
passion of the christ… oh wait
Two off the top of my head are “The Secret Garden”, “The Fountain” and a couple of Indian movies that show a powerful love story “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” and “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”
If you like Indian movies, Vivah is a beautiful story of love and self-sacrifice.
Wow, no one mentioned “Les Miserables” with Liam Neeson and Uma Thurman? Perhaps THE BEST movie (ever) that shows the clear difference between law and grace (Jesus). A clear winner if you want to communicate to an unbeliever the difference between “religon” and “Jesus”. “Jean Valjean, my brother.. with this silver I purchase your soul, and give you back to God” Never mind the cover, RENT, NO BUY, THIS MOVIE!! I can not help but keep giving this movie away.
oh yes!! Les Miserables and the Liam Neeson version, yes..
beautiful – such grace and truth and sacrificial love – that eventually touched the legalistic policeman that pursued him – but his mind and body could not cope with such love and grace (which is the sad part, but is very revealing about evil and grace when they meet)
I like the phrase “redemptive analogies.” It is like the verse in Ecclesiastes speaking of God setting eternity in the hearts of humanity (Eccl 3:11). The story is there in so many different arenas. Whether the ebb and flow of sports, or a movie, you can pull an analogy about Jesus out of many forms of art.
My personal all time favorite is The Matrix. So many lines, so many analogies, so many parallels!
Inception “It is only when you wake up that you realize something was wrong.” It is only when we realize who we are in Christ and that we are apart of a new humanity that we realize something is wrong. Also the idea of inception is placing a seed or thought in someone and it grows. Christ is the seed that grows within us if we allow Him. He can become an all consuming thought that transforms us.
Carrie: Awesome comment! I forgot “Inception.” I love how the “kick” is what brings one out of sleep and they have to be awakened by falling into water.
And the sinner is awakened out of the dark mist (Eph. 2) by the kick or nudge of the Spirit and is baptized in water.
Great film!
I’m really surprised you listed “Seven Pounds”… I felt it was an incredibly sad story of a man’s inability to forgive himself and the only way he could was to try to redeem his life through suicide and donating body parts to others. I was very disturbed by it and my friend & I who saw it remarked for weeks how we wanted to scrub our brain of the horror of that film! It was a man trying to pay for his sins w/ works essentially…
Sherry: Interesting. Every believer I know who saw Seven Pounds came away seeing Jesus Christ in it. It’s interesting what different people bring to a film. I don’t think the point was Will Smith’s motives . . . which is quite debatable as to why he did what he did (it’s impossible to judge another person’s motives anyhow). One person imputes bad motives of paying for one’s sins while another imputes good motives of awakening to love and give to others as they don’t have anything else to live for. The fruit of what the man did for others and the message of self-giving and self-sacrifice is profoundly heralded at the end. Remember, he loved one of them and wanted to be with them. But he benefited her at his own expense instead. If that’s not Christian love, I don’t know what is.
Another film that comes to mind which reflects (in a flawed way as all films do) the grace that people find in authentic organic church life under the headship of Christ is “Chocolat” with Johnny Depp. It clearly shows the contrast between self-righteous judgmental legalism and the pain, heartache, and eventual madness that it brings to others and to oneself vs. the joy and blessing to others that knowing the grace of God brings. Despite the flaws, that’s the major message and it’s powerfully expressed.
Two films that depict the Fall that gets exposed in organic church life are “Animal Farm” (animated) and “Exam” (2009). As one who has been in and has worked with organic churches for over 20 years, both of these films illustrate how close-knit community without a human head will expose the depths of the Fall in some people. Ala, the NT letters show this rather plainly.
But for the grace of God . . .
I agree with Remember the Titans as a picture of our corporate unity in Christ.
Also, The Blind Side is a great picture of the Lord’s love and desire to give new life to those who are hurting by adopting them into His family. It’s also based on a true story.
In Meet Joe Black, Death becomes human (Brad Pitt’s character) and learns that love is more powerful than death. The love of Christ conquered death forever.
The three Mohicans in The Last of the Mohicans are a picture of the Trinity.
Ok time to be abstract. Napoleon Dynamite. The star is a plain, average nerd. But underneath is a wild side that we only catch glimpses of. There is a life bigger for him than what most of the movie lets on. I see God’s blessing on the underdogs and the least likely characters. (God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong, the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…etc…)
here is a new one:
TRON; Legacy – the story of a man who creates a virtual world and all in that world. after her created the world one of his first creation turns against him and desires to take the place of the creator. the salvation of the world he created centers on his son.
The end of Transformers, Optimus prime wants to give his live for the humanity but finally I don’t have to do.
The Notebook stands out above all others to me, in fact my favorite. The Matrix (one) without doubt and The Green Mile. The Green Mile is full of metaphors, even though it is of a most tragic theme, there is just something about that movie which touches upon the darkness of the flesh and the miracle of a life that is kind, loving, and not at all what everyone else thinks regarding the character. The character is huge and powerful in his size, though he is thought of as simple(lacking intelligence), yet this character knows the real value, the real meaning of what love we should have for one another and this hurts him so because he sees all the unloving ways of humankind toward one another.
I can definitely see God shining through as well in The Matrix, The Notebook and Groundhog Day (though this one I tend to giggle at frequently when I am in the midst of getting angry – and I repeat over and over again to keep myself from getting angry…”Don’t drive angry Marni…don’t drive angry.” haha I know – it is silly, but it gets me out of my anger mode when I exercise this humor).
I have yet to see the other movies suggested here – but I will for sure check them out.
Thank you for the insight – for I truly believe as you do, God shines through every facet of life (even what may seem the most ambiguous).
For me, slum dog millionaire ranks up there! The movie always floors me. The main character of the movie (a kid from the slums named Jamal!) pursues the girl of his dreams (Latika) who has been orphaned and who has been sold into slavery. His whole life’s goal is to rescue her and marry her. After being together for a short time as children, they are separated. He never forgets about her and keeps looking to find her. After years of searching, he finally finds her. At the right time he finally finds her. When he discovers her, she is enslaved to a wretched criminal. He proposes to her with this amazing line:
“Come away with me” (Jamal)
“And live on what?” (Latika) (using human practical thinking)
“Love” (Jamal)
Even though she wants to leave with the guy who has risked his life to rescue her, worldly thinking of survival keeps her in the slavery she desires to escape. She rejects his offer. He is dejected, but does not give up. Eventually, an amazing turn of events frees her to escape her slavery and be reunited with him.
The movie ends with the explanation they came together because “it is written”. The Lord floored me with this beautiful picture of Christ and His Bride. The fact that it was an Asian Indian movie (my ethnicity) and about a guy named Jamal, probably helped as well:)
The Stoning of Soraya M. was a movie I watched just the other day. About an innocent woman, who was betrayed by her husband and the religious leaders in her town, stoned to death because of her husband’s selfish desires. I appreciated the character’s strength as she was lead down the path to be stoned. Such amazing parallels to the life of Christ, his death and his triumph.
Gandhi (The power of sacrifice, love, and character; to inspire a nation to overcome with love.)
Brother Sun, Sister Moon (The power of Christ to lead and build an organic movement.)
The Apostle (Redemption, forgiveness, one person sold out to Christ can make a difference.)
Boycott (Birmingham bus boycott) (The power of living Jesus’ non-violence & love.)
The Return Of The Titans (I want to do for the church what that coach & team did for that town.)
It’s A Wonderful Life (An eternal perspective of our problems.)
The Cross/The Arthur Blessett Story (Walk in the Spirit and obey and see God move mightily.)
Frank…I do believe we knew His life in Eden and even afterwards. Since then we have had broken shattered fragments that we have been desperately trying to piece together again. I would agree that The Story is interwoven into everything. Well put.
I think we see whatever we want to see in movies. Most of those movies I have seen. I can’t say I see Christ Himself in them, rather I see the writers looking for Christ. I see in them a deep hungering for Him even if they are unaware of it.
I would beg to question the spiritual issues of the Matrix. After a lot of political study I have concluded that the original intent of the Matrix was political, with its more explicit follow up, V for Vendetta. I think the problem often times is that we project what we want to see in a movie or book, or whatever. Can Christ speak to me through movies or books and such? Sure. He used a donkey to talk.
But as I said, I see a deep hungering in this world for the authentic Christ and the love and freedom that He brings. Our movies and such scream that starvation and I hear it loudly.
David: Nicely put. As before said, I don’t think it was the intention of any these producers/creators to depict Jesus Christ. But one cannot (often) help it if they are striving to create something beautiful, virtuous, and noble. The story-line of the ages is woven into the bloodstream of the universe.
Braveheart with Mel Gibson, Died for freedom…
I actually learned of Jesus Christ by a movie I happened upon. I was around 6 or 7 years old when I gave myself to our Lord Jesus. Yes, a movie! I collapsed onto the floor and I cried like I never cried before. No one else was around, it was just Jesus and me. I gave myself to Him that day. God sent His Son and His name is Jesus Christ. Wow I never knew, I never knew! Later, my sister and I baptized each other in the creek (several times each just to make sure).
So Kat, what was the movie?
Funny, we were reading Psalm 19 this morning and discussing how God is proclaimed all around us everyday in everything He has created, yet so many still do not see Him.
The first three that come to my mind:
“50 First Dates” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
“Pay it Forward” with Kevin Spacey, Hellen Hunt, & Jim Caviezel
“To End All Wars” with Robert Carlyle and Kiefer Sutherland
I saw Jesus recently in the movie Avatar..
A picture of the reality of the incarnation of a Holy God into our wild world full of sin, hurt, and pain. It was also highly risky what the man did when he decided to be forever an avatar….and Jesus forever being all man and all God. He came into our world in our flesh in order to relate to us.
The site Hollywood Jesus is all about “pop culture from a spiritual point of view”.
I did a blog post like this a couple of months ago…love the movies you chose! The one I highlighted on mine was “The Dark Knight.” For ease’s sake, I’ll just copy and paste white I typed there…
I see Batman as a great picture of Christ (laugh, if you will). While Jesus may not have resorted to violence to accomplish His work, they are alike in that Batman sacrifices himself: his time, his energy, his relationships, and his reputation, in order to protect the people of Gotham. He becomes an outcast. In a sense, he is rejected by the people he came to save; his own people. This truth becomes particularly strong at the end of the movie *SPOILERS* after Harvey Dent, Gotham’s hero, has turned and killed five people. In order to protect Dent’s work from being undone and prevent the people from losing hope, Batman allows the wrongs Dent has done to be put on him, even though, as Commissioner Gordon’s son remarks, “He didn’t do anything wrong.” The first time I watched this movie, I cried because I was so moved by his devotion to the undeserving people. I was moved by his love.
Interestingly enough, as a side note, the Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis, is a great picture of Satan. He is the accuser, not committing the evils he does because he has anything like money or power to gain, but because he simply wants to bring out the worst in everyone. As Alfred points out, “Some men just want to watch the world burn.” The Joker is an agent of chaos…he comes to kill, steal, and destroy. In the same way, Satan, our enemy, is already a defeated foe. He knows he has nothing to gain ultimately from his works, because he will be destroyed in the end. Yet he wants to bring as many down with him as he can. There is no truth and no love in him.