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Movies/Scenes Representing
Passing on the Mantle / Passing on the Tradition
 | Chocolat (2000)
 | This movie takes place in a small town in France in
1959. The town has always expressed their community life using the word
“tranquilite” (tranquility). You knew what was expected of you, you
knew what your place was. And if you happened to forget, someone would
remind you. They trusted the wisdom of ages past, lived with the values
of tradition, family, and morality. Into this town comes Vianne, played
by Juliette Binoche. She does not go to church, has a daughter without a
father present, and has the gall to open a chocolaterie right in the
middle of Lent! As she opens and conducts her business, it becomes clear
that she is anything but traditional. Vianne does nothing by the book.
She does nothing out of obligation, but everything out of love. It is
her encouragement that brings Josephine out of her abusive marriage. It
is her encouragement that brings Armande together with her grandson. It
is her encouragement that brings a widow of 30-some-years out of
mourning and into a new relationship. The town is transformed by her
chocolaterie and her grace. (Carla Thompson Powell, Livonia, MI) |
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| Smoke Signals (1998)
| Victor retrieving his father's personal effects. (Ann Fontaine, Lander WY) |
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| The Postman (1997)
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The Kevin Costner guy picks up the postman cap as he buries its previous
owner. "Thanks for being there for me." (DVD Chapter 12)
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| John is sworn in as a postman (DVD Chapter 17) - the
tradition continues as new postal workers are sworn in (DVD Chapter 30) |
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| A Walk in the Clouds
(1995)
| A vineyard that has existed for generations is
destroyed by fire. Yet, there is hope, because the root of the original
vine is still alive. From it, the vineyard is regenerated. I think this
would be a great illustration for the Root of Jesse. (Kris Sallee
Pleasant Plains, IL) |
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| City Slickers (1991)
| Early in the film, Billy Crystal's character is getting
outfitted for the cattle drive, but can't find a real cowboy hat that
suits him. He ends up just wearing his same old baseball cap. When
Curly, the old-time cowboy, dies, Billy Crystal's character wears
Curly's hat away from the gravesite -- it is a transformative moment for
him as he becomes the leader of the group and gains understanding of the
meaning of his life. (submitted by Amy Parker, Charleston, West
Virginia) |
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| The Natural (1984)
| After Hobbs breaks his bat "Wonderboy", the
batboy brings him a bat he has made that he uses to hit the climactic
dinger. (Darrel Manson, Artesia CA) |
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| Return of the Jedi
(1983)
| Luke Skywalker with the apparitions of Obi Wan Kenobi
and Yoda. |
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| Yentl (1983)
| Yentl seeks to carry on her father's traditions. (Marie Loewen.) |
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| Star Wars (1977)
| Obi Wan Kenobi teaching Luke Skywalker lightsaber
technique - Luke picks up Obi Wan's lightsaber. (Ann
Fontaine, Lander WY) |
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| Roots (1977- TV)
| A verbal passing on as each generation is told of Kunte
Kinte and just a bit of what happened in each generation. (Darrel Manson, Artesia CA)
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| Fiddler on the Roof
(1971)
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Fiddler on the Roof works
brilliantly to illustrate the primary tension of Paul's Letter to the
Galatians: life of the Spirit v. life under the Law - or
Tradition. I had found Galatians tough to teach
because it was too easy to set the formula as (1) Paul is correct, (2)
the legalists are stupid, (3) therefore learn Galatians 3:16
"I have been crucified with Christ...", memorize the Fruit
of the Spirit and then call it a day. However, the book
made no sense without explaining the powerful pull of the legalizers
upon not only the Hebrew Christians but upon the Greeks converts
who were now hungry for moral boundaries after being saved from their libertine
culture. Imagine a formerly debauched fraternity boy first
converting and then struggling how to shape his new life.
It all came together through the first
scene of Fiddler. Tevye walks around the village,
introduces the town folk and then discourses upon TRADITIONS! He
asks: "Why do we have these traditions? It is because
they help us to know who we are and what God expects of us."
All of this was emphasized by the film editing that depicted a
different Jewish symbol with every pounding pulse of the song.
Use of the film instantly crystalized the
issues of Galatians for my class. It explained why Paul had
such a challenge when writing his letter: he had to argue for
the superiority of life under the gospel as directed and
energized by a seemingly ephemeral Holy Spirit in contrast to the life
under the Law with its tangible moral and social boundaries
provided by Old Testamant signs, symbols, customs and precepts.
The film was so powerful that it became a touchstone for the entire
eight weeks of my course. (Duncan Maysilles, Atlanta, GA)
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Index
of Movie Titles
Index
of Movie Themes
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