Movies/Scenes
Representing
Empowerment
- Erin Brockovich (2000)
- "Erin Brockovich" is essentially a film about empowerment. A mother of three children is unemployed and has no source of income. She decides that she has to find a job at all costs. In her work at a small law firm, she discovers that she has very little respect from the other employees. She comes to believe that the women of the firm are jealous of her physical attributes when she is asked to change to more appropriate work clothing. She dreams of one day having a job where she is respected for what she brings to her position. She dreams of being viewed as a person of integrity. As the story unfolds, Erin develops a friendship with her boss that only strengthens with time because of her hard work and determination to do a good job. He strongly affirms Erin with several votes of confidence. As Erin works on her case, she receives acceptance from her co-workers gradually and also from those whom she wants to sign the petition. She also is required to show some great courage when she receives some threats to her family. Her case in a small California town that is plagued by bad water requires endurance from her and from her children and boyfriend/neighbor. The film depicts a journey of self-discovery for Erin. She finds that there are many obstacles that she must overcome, including dealing with the tension of not being with her children as much as she would like when she is working on her project for the town. The tension between working and not working is a strong one for Erin, who does not have the benefits of child support for her three children. As she gains the trust of the town, a sense of community between these people develops. They begin to understand that all of their medical problems are interconnected and that by joining together as one community they have a greater chance of achieving their goals. At the end of the film, Erin shows great joy at her accomplishments as a person in the working world (not to give away the ending). (submitted by Valerie Lyson Humphreys, Independence MO)
- Galaxy Quest (1999)
- The "crew" of a long-discontinued TV show is called upon to save an alien civilization. Thinking the show represents "historical documents", the aliens have based all of their technologies on scenes from the show. When the "crew" is taken to the bridge of the ship for the first time, they learn that they can operate the controls by doing whatever their characters did on the show. As the Christian is called upon to "abide in Christ", so the actors find that being "in character" gives them the power to do things they didn't think they could do. (submitted by FUMC, Natchitoches, LA)
- The
Matrix
(1999)
- One particular theme I noticed can be summed up in a passage of scripture which states in so many words "No weapon formed against thee shall prosper." Morpheus tells Neo that he should free his mind. And he tells him about the agents and the fact that noone has ever defeated any of them. Morpheus begins to tell Neo that where everyone else has failed, he(Neo) will succeed. Neo's questions Morpheus if he's trying to say that he will dodge bullets. Morpheus says"I'm saying when the time comes, you won't have to." At the final battle scene, Neo rises from the "dead" and bullets are fired at him. He stops them; all the bullets fall without ever harming him. In the end, Neo not only survives but he transcends the boundaries of the Matrix and life in general. For me, this is one of the things that God is trying to show His people. Our faith in Him, our dedication to reading and doing His word---this empowers us to be the sons of God and to therefore free our minds from the boundaries(tests, trials, tribulations, temptations) of this world. You don't have to dodge bullets. Be assured that they are coming, but because the power of God is in us, we can look at those bullets, stop them in their tracks, and make them of none effect. (submitted by Katrina Finley)
