Check out this essay from the Journal of Religion and Film (who knew?) about the film we've been watching, Shadowlands.
Here are a couple of excerpts that I find especially pertinent.
"Something must drive us out of our nursery into the world--we must grow up!" becomes the film's C. S. Lewis dictum. This statement very much summarizes the plot of Attenborough's story. The "something" that drives Lewis out of his cloistered and safe world--his nursery--into the real world of open spaces full of bright joys and dark shadows is love; the something that forces the man to grow up is intense suffering and tragic loss--pain. Attenborough illustrates this humanizing journey through careful attention to Jack's progressive relationship with Joy, his detached professor to human being relationship with a student, his increasingly intimate relationship with Douglas, and his maturing relationship with God.
And. . .
Lewis queries, "Why love if loving hurts so much? I have no answers; only the life I've lived. Twice I've been given a choice: the boy chose safety; the man chooses suffering." The film in its entirety answers the "Why love" question. It proclaims that it 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all; indeed, pain and suffering is part of the living experience. As Joy puts it, "it's part of the deal." To further clarify, safety provides only that - safety. Accepting the risk of suffering, however, provides the possibility of experiencing great joy. Furthermore, the film, and specifically Lewis's "I have no answers" concluding statement reiterates the thinking of a previous great intellect: "There lives more faith in honest doubt...than in half the creeds."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
The closer we get to the end of the year, the more real the idea of going off to college becomes. I just can't think about leaving my family, friends, and pets behind...especially the ferrets.
I really liked this movie. As depressing as it was, it's completely true.
I found this movie more touching than depressing. The ending was sad but the overall message was nice.
I honestly couldn't wait for that movie to end. it was so long but wow, it was so sad at the end! for some reason i felt like my mom had cancer. it's just hard to think about. no one should have to go through something like that, especially if you're Douglas and you're still really young. It's tough not having a mother to teach you stuff that only mothers can teach you or the same thing but for fathers.
i like what he said in that excerpt, "it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." i think that is really true. it's important to not hold back and to do what your heart tells you. it just hurts once you have to say good bye.
I really enjoyed this movie. I liked the fact that you could see and feel Jack's transformation, yet predict everything at the same time. Personally, I may be biased because of my religious inclination (but I still liked the movie).
I also liked the quote from the essay: "There lives more faith in honest doubt..." This is what Lewis came to realize. He couldn't always have the answers and this demanded greater faith. Joy almost foreshadowed this when she mentioned Jack's battles (and that he never loses). Well, he finally lost. It made him doubt what he knew and it increased his faith. I think this quote is true for many people. It takes more faith when you are uncertain.
I will say, even though the movie did not have action or adventure, I really did enjoy the movie. The movie focused on the characters more than anything else. The movie was very touching and sad near the end. However, it is a natural experience and is something that we all will encounter one day. The movie also pulled me into my own pensive (I knew I would be able to squeeze Harry Potter somewhere in here). When Lewis began to lose his faith in God, I was reminded of my family nearly 16 years ago. The actors/actresses did a phenomenal job in portraying a character in pain and one who is suffering. The movie did have some faults, but overall I believe it to be a terrific and touching movie.
Thanks, guys. You've made my night.
Post a Comment