God in the Movies , livre ebook

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2017 by Catherine M. Barsotti and Robert K. Johnston
Published by Brazos Press
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.brazospress.com
Ebook edition created 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1059-0
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled CEB are from the Common English Bible © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011
Scripture quotations labeled GNT are from the Good News Translation—Second Edition. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )
Scripture quotations labeled NET are from the NET Bible®, copyright © 1996–2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.org . Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com .
Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Photo captures were made by Steve Vredenburgh.
Endorsements
“ God in the Movies is an essential text for courageous moviegoers. Paying attention to forty years of cinematic excellence and leading us into the questions raised by art’s provocative ambiguities, Barsotti, Johnston, and their community of cinephiles celebrate an incarnational vision. They show us that the Spirit moves in mysterious ways throughout the world of cinema—in movies popular and obscure, commercial and foreign, inspiring and disturbing. With prophetic understanding, they coax us to become wise interpreters of the world’s big-screen dreams. They give us ‘eyes to see.’”
— Jeffrey Overstreet , Seattle Pacific University, author of Through a Screen Darkly and Auralia’s Colors and senior film critic at Christianity Today and lookingcloser.org
“Spirituality in movies? You bet! With their book God in the Movies , Barsotti and Johnston present a host of insightful essays. Each gives us eyes to see the subtle but powerful nuggets of spiritual wisdom tucked into mainstream Hollywood films. You’ve seen most of these movies; now take a second look. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find!”
— David C . McFadzean , writer, producer, partner, Wind Dancer Films ( Bernie and TV’s Home Improvement )
“Catherine Barsotti and Rob Johnston, experts in expressing the profound connections between faith and culture, have opened up the conversation even further in their newest book together, God in the Movies . They have drawn together brilliant authors, prophetic films, and fabulous insight into the importance of movies—their messages, their meaning, and their influence on our hearts, minds, and spirits. Christians today must be culturally engaged, and this book challenges us and guides us to connect our appetites for entertainment with our hunger for discussing divine truth.”
— Karen Covell , film producer and founding director of the Hollywood Prayer Network
“At their best, films help people engage with the most profound questions of human life. Christianity—and all religion—does this in a much more comprehensive way. In God in the Movies , Barsotti and Johnston do a wonderful job of showing how film can stimulate religious discussion and how those discussions can inform our viewing of films.”
— George Nolfi , screenwriter, producer, and director ( Ocean’s Twelve , The Bourne Ultimatum , and The Adjustment Bureau )
Praise for Barsotti and Johnston’s previous book, Finding God in the Movies
“Robert Johnston and Catherine Barsotti have done a wonderful service in creating a book that teaches believers how to analyze films. They provide excellent examples of thoughtful criticism and great discussion questions to engage our minds. Use it alone, with your family, or, better yet, invite the neighborhood.”
— Charles W. Colson , founder, Prison Fellowship
“To read God into movies is not difficult. To find God there waiting for us—now, that is something else altogether. Finding God in the Movies peels back God’s presence in thirty-three compelling films, leading us from superficial analysis and utilitarian agendas to deep, personal engagement. Bravo!”
— Sally Morgenthaler , founder, Sacramentis.com and Digital Glass Videos
“Written with humility, grace, and sensitivity, Finding God in the Movies will be a tremendous resource for those seeking light inside the cinema. More than just a guide to great films, this book is a window into how to engage with them and find on the other side a deeper understanding of the Lord.”
— Todd Komarnicki , filmmaker and producer
“An important and insightful book that held me spellbound. Once again, Barsotti and Johnston demonstrate their incredible ability to dialogue with both Hollywood and the community of faith. They offer rich spiritual insights and astute observations on thirty-three films. Unlike other film review books, they appropriate each film’s vision of life and invite the reader to interact with it. Here is an invitation to enhance your journey of faith via the silver screen.”
— David Bruce , host of HollywoodJesus.com
“In every arena of youth ministry today, we are seeing that movies are providing students many of their takes on life. Those of us seeking to minister to youth need effective resources to help them engage in dialogue between faith and film. Finding God in the Movies can help you use movies more authentically in your teaching and outreach. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.”
— Cliff Anderson , vice president of training and strategic resources, Young Life, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dedication
For wonderful parents, Leo and Mary, who took Cathy to The Sound of Music , her first movie. And for a great sister, Judith, whose birthday gift of tickets to Becket changed Rob’s life.
Epigraphs
The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
Henry David Thoreau, essayist
If without stories we live not, stories live not without us.
Phyllis Trible, Old Testament scholar
The best films are effectively real life wrapped in metaphor.
Travis Knight, director of animated film
If we ask more precisely which moments or events mediate God’s Spirit, the answer can only be potentially all experience. The whole world. There is no exclusive zone, no special realm which alone can be called religious.
Elizabeth Johnson, theologian
Contents
Cover i
Title Page ii
Copyright Page iii
Endorsements iv
Dedication v
Epigraphs vi
Foreword by Ralph Winter xi
Contributors xiii
Introduction: Faith and Film: Welcome to a Maturing Conversation xviii
Robert K. Johnston and Catherine M. Barsotti
The ’80s: A Decade of Changes 1
Barry Taylor
1. Amadeus (d. Forman, 1984, US) 3
Kutter Callaway
2. Babette’s Feast (d. Axel, 1987, Denmark) 9
Lauralee Farrer
3. Chariots of Fire (d. Hudson, 1981, US/UK) 15
Joseph C. Gallagher
4. Crimes and Misdemeanors (d. Allen, 1989, US) 21
Eugene Suen
5. Do the Right Thing (d. Lee, 1989, US) 28
Avril Z. Speaks
6. The Elephant Man (d. Lynch, 1980, US/UK) 34
Joseph C. Gallagher
7. Field of Dreams (d. Robinson, 1989, US) 39
Robert K. Johnston
8. The Mission (d. Joffé, 1986, UK/France) 45
Kutter Callaway
9. Places in the Heart (d. Benton, 1984, US) 51
Elijah Davidson
10. Wings of Desire (d. Wenders, 1987, Germany) 57
Craig Detweiler
The ’90s: A Bridge Decade 63
Barry Taylor
11. American Beauty (d. Mendes, 1999, US) 65
Avril Z. Speaks
12. Breaking the Waves (d. von Trier, 1996, Denmark/Sweden/France/Netherlands/Norway) 71
Lauralee Farrer
13. Dead Man Walking (d. Robbins, 1995, US) 77
Avril Z. Speaks
14. Groundhog Day (d. Ramis, 1993, US) 83
Elijah Davidson
15. To Live (d. Zhang, 1994, China) 89
Eugene Suen
16. Magnolia (d. Anderson, 1999, US) 95
Robert K. Johnston
17. The Piano (d. Campion, 1993, New Zealand/Australia/France) 101
Lauralee Farrer
18. The Shawshank Redemption (d. Darabont, 1994, US) 107
Robert K. Johnston
19. Three Colors: Blue (d. Kieślowski, 1993, France/Poland) 113
Lauralee Farrer
20. Unforgiven (d. Eastwood, 1992, US) 119
Elijah Davidson
The ’00s: A Decade of the Unexpected 125
Barry Taylor
21. Children of Men (d. Cuarón, 2006, UK/US/Japan) 127
Mathew P. John
22. Lars and the Real Girl (d. Gillespie, 2007, US/Canada) 134
Catherine M. Barsotti
23. Munyurangabo (d. Chung, 2008, Rwanda/US) 140
Robert K. Johnston
24. Secret Sunshine (d. Lee, 2007, South Korea) 147
Eugene Suen
25. A Serious Man (d. Coen and Coen, 2009, US) 154
Elijah Davidson
26. The Son (d. Dardenne and Dardenne, 2002, Belgium/France) 161
Eugene Suen
27. There Will Be Blood (d. Anderson, 2007, US) 167
Lauralee Farrer
28. Up (d. Docter and Peterson, 2009, US) 174
Joseph C. Gallagher
29. WALL • E (d. Stanton, 2008, US) 18