Thursday, November 15, 2007

Movies about Grace? I count three.

I do not think that it is an overstatement for me to type that most movies are, in the end, really just about Christianity: They usually trace the main motifs that belong to the God and Father of Jesus Christ: love, justice, redemption, hope, fidelity. Even if these sweet intangibles are portrayed negatively, I find that the plot and themes of most movies are still, as they say during election times, 'on message'.

However, there are only three movies that I can recall where the dominant motif is 'Grace':

1. Babette's Feast. (A Danish film)
2. The Widow of Saint Pierre. (A French Canadian Film)
3. The Lives of Others. (A German Film)

The Lives of Others is a subtitled film set in East Germany in 1984. I just finished it now, and I am in tears. Maybe it's the Jet-Lag. Maybe it's because Grace is life to the body and soul.

The Apostle John says: (John 1)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Incidentally, on Rotten Tomatoes, these three films are reviewed as 100%, 90% and 93% repectively. I wonder if Grace is what our universe needs most. And in particular, the Grace of God.

Have I missed another 'Grace' film?
Is my observation correct?

________________________

11 comments:

Luke said...

Kenny

Luke said...

(An Australian film)

Anthony Douglas said...

What, no Narnia film here?! CSL would be turning in his grave, if his eschatology allowed for it.

Anonymous said...

Chocolat?

Justin said...

John and Luke -- I haven't seen Chocolat or Kenny (Must do so).

Anthony -- Indeed!

Nathan said...

They made a move of Les Miserables.

Anonymous said...

Life Is Beautiful from 1998 - best foreign film. . . is that a fil full of grace?

Unknown said...

we just watched "The Lives of Others" last night! Brilliant movie. Captivating story and fantastic character development. Funny that one story of betrayal made you angry and the other story of betrayal made you glad. Won't say more in case others have not seen it...

Liz said...

The one movie that made me feel overwhelmed by God's grace, oddly enough, was Hotel Rwanda. I was humbled by that movie -- by the humility and grace of Paul Ruesesabagina (sp?) and the knowledge that I was no better than anyone committing the horrid deeds. And that God actually died for wretches like us. (it's Liz in SF, by the way)

Nathan said...

At the end of Spiderman 3, Spidey defeats the Sandman by saying "I forgive you," instead of kicking his arse like he did to the other villains.

Anonymous said...

You were in tears because it is one of the best movies ever made.