For many years there have been certain films that seem so appropriate for the season of Lent and contemplating Jesus’ 40 days of preparing for ministry, being tempted, conversing with the devil and ultimately receiving the care of angels. Les Miserables has been an annual tradition, but this year in my variety of films during rest time I have hit on some new ones that are a little more outside the norm. Perhaps it is because this is a time of reflection for me that these films have new relevance for me, but they seemed very good to share:
Les Miserables, my traditional film features a convict making a new life for himself and his ward with the constant presence of a policeman wanting to put him back where the convict “belongs.” It is beyond a story of redemption, but touches on the fact that so many are judged and subsequently tortured and tormented in a way that belies the Grace of God…and that judgement is so often cruelly false.
Amelie, a movie recommended by many friends over the years who said the main character was similar to myself…for this reason I was reluctant to view. However, it is a wonderful movie about a woman who is raised in an unusual, mentally unstable family, who faces the challenges of relationships and life. In one scene she sees as a metaphor for her life is a horse running among bicycles, in other words, she is NOT normal. A great reflection piece for those of us who feel out of the norm of society, and then take it a step further and think of how Jesus experience of the desert and the cross was – so unusual.
Love in the Time of Cholera, an incredibly sexy movie that has at its heart the question of “what is love?” Our protagonist falls so deeply in love as a young man that when that love is denied him he becomes a magnet for women who sense this deep need within him. He will experience much sensuality, but not love until he is reunited with the love of his life. For me this was a great examination of how what we fill our lives with outside of love can never fulfill our deepest longing to truly love others.
Full Monty, a comedy that sounds sexy, but is more profound than the premise of the movie belies. The focus of the movie is a group of average unemployed male steel workers seeking to make some quick money by doing a strip show. But what is at the heart of the movie is how desperate we can all become when we face hardships in our lives and how much we depend on others to support us to give us strength, a fabulous reflection for a world in economic turmoil. It is a great reminder of the variety of angels who touch and care for people, as Jesus was cared for.
The Big Lebowski, This is a personal favorite for me this Lenten season when my focus is on living in the moment. One issue I had with watching this movie here in Italy was that it was so poorly translated. The characters speak almost exclusively in slang, and even the name of the central character is slang, which for those of us who grew up using a lot of slang know, carries a great depth of meaning. The Dude, the central character is so cool, he doesn’t need a name, but a title, The Dude. What makes him special is that he is so relaxed with everyone, including his very bizarre friends and the equally bizarre normal people around him that he is non-judgmental, and very caring. Although he is human, with flaws, he is always so present to the people around him. The translation into Italian had his name as “druggo” instead of “the Dude” which reminded me of how Jesus was accused of being an drunkard, and how the devil in the wilderness tempted Jesus using literal readings from scripture and later he would be killed with accusations from others. They did not look at the compassion, did not look for the grace in the reality of lives that are not always attractive.
Jesus of Montreal, is a movie I can’t see here because I can’t find it, however, I have seen it so many times it is impossible to do Lent without thinking of it. It is about a theatrical presentation of the Passion Story of Jesus that includes a seedy cast, and some literal expressions, such as a naked Jesus on the cross, that most people don’t like to think about. It is a beautiful reminder that Jesus was one of us as a human, not always pretty, but Jesus loved all, including many of us who feel unloved by a clean and tidy world…Jesus loved sinners and saints alike. Such a great shout out to us all, we are here to love one another, not just a few.
So what to do when one is indoors on retreat and reflecting on the wonder of life and the love of God in the season of Lent; enjoy the beauty of storytellers through film.
What are the films or literature that speak to your heart during this season, or any season about your faith journey?
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