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With thanks to page sponsor: First
Congregational Church - UCC, Jackson, Michigan
Movies/Scenes
Representing Redemption
- John Q
(2002)
- This movie depicts the plight
of a father (Denzel Washington) willing to lay
down his life for his son and therefore should be cross-referenced under
Abraham and Issac and Cross and Resurrection in the sense of the
suffering of God through the evil of Jesus death.
As a social commentary, it pricks our conscience about a society with
medical services for those who can afford them and death for those
who cannot. As
redemptive drama, it also shows the metanoia or reversal of thinking
in several characters who broker the power of the HMO medical system
but in the end ultimately side with the
powerlessness of John Q. and his son.
(Dr. Barry A. Woodbridge, Orangethorpe
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Fullerton,
CA)
- My Dog Skip (2000)
- Skip as a redeemer figure for Willie's dad and the
family.
- The Cell (2000)
- I have watched this movie twice and am struck by the
redemption theme and the symbolism of the water,
particularly the baptism. The J. Lopez character
seems to take on the persona of the Virgin. Also there is the
implied suggestion at one point that perhaps the FBI agent was
himself an abused child who resisted the
temptation to turn to evil. (Pam Brewer)
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Cole/Vincent and Malcolm redeem each other's lives.
- Deep End of the Ocean
(1999)
- The scene where the mother realizes her toddler is gone
and begins a frantic, all-out search is a great clip to connect with
Luke 15 type things... The all out search is emotional, gripping,
and one people easily identify with. (Martha Johannides, Quest Community
Church, Lexington KY)
- Bicentennial Man (1999)
- Andrew (Robin Williams) is an android who develops the
sensitivity, creativity and emotions of a human. Over a period of more
than 150 years, he persues his dream of being recognized as human. His
appeals are denied because, since he cannot die, he lacks the essential
mortality of humanity. Finally, Andrew arranges for his body to
deteriorate. He would rather die as a man than live forever as a
machine. Andrew enbraces the "cross" of mortality, giving up
his life in order to gain it. (FUMC, Natchitoches, LA)
- Angela's Ashes (1999)
- When Frankie finally encounters a priest who listens to
him with empathy, rather than judging him as inferior because of
poverty, he pours out his whole long story of suffering. Through the
tears and the release, he also repents of his sins, and experiences
nothing short of miraculous cleansing and a new beginning. (Brenda Byrne and Brad Wilson)
- The Confession (1999)
- Bleakie "self-destructs" - sacrifices his
career and all he's lived for, in order to find himself and be
regenerated as a moral man.
- Three Kings (1999)
- Iraqi rebels and American soldiers save each other.
- The Bone Collector (1999)
- Lincoln Rhyme's life is resurrected and even redeemed
through his relationship with Amelia.
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- "Stop. I am ready to redeem him." (DVD
Chapter 22)
- Galaxy Quest
(1999)
- Although Mathesar thinks
that the Galaxy Quest crew has saved his people, it is the
"innocent faith" of the aliens which redeems lives that have
become meaningless for the crew.
- The death of Alexander
Dane's fan inspires Dane to become what he was perceived to be.
- Double Jeopardy (1999)
- Libby and Lehman (chapter 15) "You saved my
life." "You saved mine, too."
- The
Hurricane (1999)
- Waking Ned Divine
(1998)
- The Irish film, Waking Ned Divine, reflects well on the
theme of one man's death benefitting an entire community. Ned's death
not only brings wealth to his small village, it brings redemption for
the characters who are trapped in their small lives. (Miles
Hardy)
- Simon Birch (1998)
- The
Fifth Element (1997)
- Leeloo as the redemptor who lights up the world and
explodes evil. (see review at Hollywood
Jesus)
- Good Will Hunting
(1997)
- Sean and Will are savior figures for each other, and
the relationship between them redeems both of their lives.
- The Postman (1997)
- The Postman as redeemer figure - redeeming others
through his own misguided deeds and words.
- Sling Blade
(1996)
- "By viewing the film from a
theological perspective, Karl’s act of vengeance is also one of of
atonement. He feels that those who commit murder will go to
"Hades." Therefore, Karl has done more than give his life for
the happiness of a child; he has sacrificed his soul." ("The
Messianic Figure in Film: Christology Beyond the Biblical Epic,"
Matthew McEver, Journal of Religion and Film, 1998.)
- Kolya (1996)
- Louka's life is redeemed as he gives himself for Kolya.
- Mr.
Holland's Opus (1995)
- I think there is a theme of resurrection and atonement
too. It was only in the death of Mr. Holland's teaching position that his
symphony gained life, or to look at it differently, his students didn't
realize (at least not publicly) who Mr. Holland was in their lives until his
position was cut. (Matthew Phillips, Senior, Duke Divinity School)
- Dead Man Walking (1995)
- Poncelet wants to quickly claim that
Jesus has taken care of any sins he may have. Prejean encourages him to
take responsibility for what he has done in order to die a noble death
as a child of God.
- Babe (1995)
- Narrator: "This is a tale about an unprejudiced
heart, and how it changed our valley forever. There was a time not so
long ago when pigs were afforded no respect, except by other pigs; they
lived their whole lives in a cruel and sunless world. In those days pigs
believed that the sooner they grew large and fat, the sooner they'd be
taken into Pig Paradise, a place so wonderful that no pig had ever
thought to come back."
- Leaving Las Vegas
(1995)
- Ben's and Sera's tragically futile attempts at loving
and redeeming each other.
- The Shawshank Redemption
(1994)
- In the Shawshank Redemption, the narrator (Morgan
Freeman's character) is healed from his despair by Tim
Robbins'character's hope in the face of suffering. This is also the
"redemption" of the title (I think), that one man is redeemed
by the suffering of an innocent man who takes on the suffering of prison
anyway, seeing life within and beyond it, and living fully, and freely,
even in his captivity, and can still seize the opportunity for freedom.
(Edie Bird, Fayetteville, Arkansas)
- The Adventures of
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
- Afraid of his son's rejection, Tick pretends to be
something he's not. His son matter of factly accepts his father, and
Tick is able to return home physically and internally.
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- Jules Winnfield: Wanna know what I'm
buyin' Ringo?
Pumpkin: What?
Jules Winnfield: Your life. I'm givin' you that money so I don't hafta
kill [you].
- The Fisher King (1991)
- Jack wants to "pay
the fine and go home" after discovering that Parry's wife was
killed after Jack made remarks about Yuppies on his radio show. He
discovers that redemption is often more difficult, and occasionally
mutual. Parry and Jack each sacrifice themselves for the other's
healing.
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day
(1991)
- In the closing scene, the Terminator (who in the
previous film was the arch-enemy - links to Lucifer!), is lowered into a
vat of molten metal, because this is the only way to destroy his
otherwise indestructible micro-chip and the power of destruction that it
contains. The destruction must be accomplished by his friends, as he is
unable to "self-destruct" - powerful connotations for
considering the Judas story. The knowledge of what it means to be human
and to feel grief is also highlighted. The final image of his
destruction is a hand (God to man? Crucifixion?) reaching up (also links
back to the last image in the first film, where the hand which kept
coming alive represented the power of evil.) The whole film has strong
themes of salvation and the cost of salvation - for instance, is it
justifiable to destroy a family in order to save the world? (David Hogg)
- Jesus
of Montreal (1989)
- This is a film that is so rich it could illustrate any
number of themes: discipleship, temptation, redemption, etc. Jesus of
Montreal tells the story of an actor hired to help update a parish's
annual Passion Play. He gathers a group of actors around him and
in interesting ways the actors lives mirror the stories of Jesus and his
followers from the gospels. Memorable scenes for me include the
gathering of the actors (Jesus calling his disciples); the actor
destroying a television studio (Jesus destroys the temple); a lawyer
trying to get the actor to sign a contract (temptation in the
wilderness); and the dead actor's organs being donated so that others
can have life. (Rev. Maria Nightingale)
- Les Miserables
- The opening scene is a wonderful picture of redemption
and grace as the priest gives Jean Valjean both his freedom and the
silver candlesticks; even after Valjean has stolen from him and beaten
him. (Jim Branch)
- Rain Man (1988)
- The "successful" Charlie Babbit is
emotionally immature and lacks integrity. His "childlike"
autistic brother becomes the mediator of Charlie's redemption and
growth.
- The Mission (1986)
- In the film, The Mission, I found the scene where
Robert DeNero's character (a slave trader) is cut free from the ropes
that held him in bondage by the natives whose lives he had slaughtered
very powerful. (Judith Snyder)
- Tron (1982)
- The movie "Tron," which came out sometime in
the 80s, is the story of the Incarnation. A man has created a computer
game; in it, characters ask one another, "Do you believe in the
User?" The warriors in the program are trying to resist an evil
being, but they're losing because REAL evil enters the being and he
begins to take over computers in the real world. The "User,"
watches the game in anguish, saying, "Don't give up guys! You're
the best program in the world! I wrote you." Finally, he realizes
there's only one remedy: so he becomes one of the characters in the
game, in order to overthrow evil. I've used this as a retreat
centerpiece several times. (Kristen Ingram)
- Time Bandits (1981)
- I am using Time Bandits this week for Lenten discussion
on the Fall and Redemption, the power of good over evil, the human
propensity for trying to be God rather than acting fully as human. The
theology is excellent (I think, anyway) and the film is SO much more
than its cover blurb says. It helps to watch it more than once, since
the dialog is British, and the dialog and action both move very fast.
The elements of the film are very tightly constructed, with scenes
inter-related one to another; i.e., the game show that Kevin's mother
and father watch at the beginning of the film becomes Satan's enticement
and trap later on. The Supreme Being is so perfectly a low-church
Anglican cleric, that we Episcopalians feel right at home. (Mary Goshert)
- Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- The 50 eggs also represent the 50 souls of the inmates
that Luke sacrifices himself for. (Dean Cramer)
- On the Waterfront
(1954)
Index of Movie Titles
Index of Movie Themes
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