Journeys of faith
In the history of film, movies portraying genuine faith in all its humanity and glory are few and far between, especially good ones. Some are spectacular pieces of art and experiences of transcendence—The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Diary of a Country Priest (1951), Chariots of Fire (1981), Tender Mercies (1983), The Apostle (1997), The End of the Affair (1999), Into Great Silence (2005), and Secret Sunshine (2007). If you haven’t seen these classic to contemporary films, put them on your Netflix queue.
Now, in 2011, released just weeks apart to US theaters, two films usher viewers into vastly different but equally inspiring journeys of faith. The two films? Soul Surfer (2011, d. McNamara) and Of God’s and Men (2010, d. Beauvois).
Grace and peace amid tragedy
Certainly Soul Surfer won’t win an Oscar; but this was not its intent. Instead, the movie tries to provide viewers an inspirational story of faith and determination, together with the beauty of creation and great surfing footage. And the movie succeeds on all counts. We are shown the true story of Bethany Hamilton (played by Anna Sophie Robb), a teenage surfing champion who almost died when a fifteen foot tiger shark bit off her left arm, only for Bethany to go back into the water three weeks later.
The movie shows how her supportive family and church community, her genuine Christian faith, and her determined, courageous, competitive spirit all came together to help Bethany not only survive but thrive.
To its credit (though taking some liberties with the actual story), the movie tries to show some of the struggle in Bethany’s spirit. Bethany is downcast in the hospital (a scene Bethany says was exaggerated in the film). She asks her church youth director (played in a somewhat wooden manner by country music star Carrie Underhill) how the attack could be part of God’s plan. We also see her struggle with her self-image.
However what we mostly see and experience in the film is very ordinary people doing quite extraordinary things within the context of a strong faith, a family committed to each other, a supportive church community, and a resilient spirit open to both accepting life and transforming it. The movie ends with actual footage of the real Bethany and her family.
Christianity Today’s Mark Moring reflecting on their story wrote, “I have spent time with the Hamiltons and with Bethany, and it is uncanny how ‘simple’ they’ve allowed this incredible experience to play out.” It seems that Bethany and her family have the peace that passes all understanding and the grace to ride the wave wherever it goes, regardless of where it might break. It is inspiring. Here is a movie for the whole family to enjoy and then discuss.
A cinematic study of faith
The second film, Of Gods and Men, is completely different in tone, feel, space and way of expressing faith. And yet, we found it even more powerful than Soul Surfer. Again, based on the true story of 10 Trappist monks living in the Atlas mountain region of Algeria during the civil war years in the mid-1990’s, the film topped the box-office in France for three weeks, won the Grand Prix last year at Cannes and inspired even steely critics with its humanity and transcendence.
As the film starts the viewer hears the monks singing Psalm 81, “Sing aloud to God our strength.” Little does the viewer know how much the monks will need to live into those words, as their vocation places them between Islamist terrorists and the corrupt Algerian government as they seek to serve the poor Muslim villagers that live around their monastery.
We meet these monks more as a community than as individuals, seeing them sing the Psalms together, break bread together, garden, pray and study in silence, and celebrate the Eucharist together. Their daily rhythms take on a transcendent beauty.
Only two of the monks are really developed for the viewer. First there is the abbot of the monastery, Christian (Lambert Wilson), an Arabic scholar who memorizes the Koran as well as the Scripture. He agonizes with his community and seeks God’s will about what they should do–leave the monastery as many from the “outside” counsel them, or stay as the villagers plead with them. Christian senses that Christ is calling them to live fully into their vocation by staying where they have been called to serve.
Then there is the gentle and humorous doctor, Luc (Michael Lonsdale), who arrives at the monastery’s clinic each day with a long line of villagers waiting for medical care, parenting counsel, and even advice on love! While the history of French colonialism lurks in the background and is the reason for the monastery’s existence, this community of Christians is portrayed as integrated into the lives of their Muslim neighbors in every way. Mutual love and respect are evident.
Certainly the viewer will walk away with memories of the other monks, especially as they journey through doubt, fear, peace, and joy. Their last supper together in the monastery, for example, is not in silence but rather spent listening to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Their faces bear all, as the music sets them free for a moment, and we with them. Their journey is to live into their faith knowing where it might lead…to suffering and death.
The film, thus, becomes a cinematic study of faith, obedience to God, and commitment to neighbor. It makes concrete the meaning of service and humility. Though none of the monks wear the brightly colored WWJD wristbands of recent years, they are, in fact, seeking to know how to best follow Jesus within their vocation and context. And the result is both illumining and compelling.
My wife and I saw the film during the Lenten season this year, which made it even more poignant and powerful. We left the theater thinking about the words that Christian writes in his journal (spoken as a voice-over) “Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to this country. That the Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure.”
Like the season, the film was austere and yet provocative, moving us closer to actually knowing God, not just having a knowledge about God.