CHRIST FIGURES IN THE MOVIES

Whether they get Christ or not, Hollywood gets the Christ-figure. There are tons of wonderful films that are story-metaphors, ur...parables, for the Redemption, that would make great companions to your Lenten journey.

The formula of the Christ-figure film is always that "a stranger" comes in to live with a people not his own, and makes them his own. There is always a journey for the character either actually, or implied. At some point in the film, it always comes down to that he sees a sacrifice needs to be made, and that he could just walk away to save himself. Then, he or she gives his life (in some way) for his new people. This aspect of the stranger giving his life for his new friends is what separates the Christ-figure film from just other stories of heroic leader figures who die.

Here are a few sugestions of films that you might watch these next 40 days as part of your Lenten reflection. In no particular order...

1. (especially with kids) The Iron Giant
2. The Mission
3. Babette's Feast
4. Ghandi
5. High Noon
6. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
7. The Bridge on the River Kwai
8. One Against the Wind
9. (shudder) The Lord of the Rings trilogy
10. Mary Poppins
11. Glory
12. We Were Soldiers
13. Romero
14. Shane
15. Dead Man Walking
16. The Passion of Joan of Arc
17. Metropolis
18. The Great Escape
19. Cries and Whispers
20. Mrs. Brown
21. The Good Earth
22. Good-bye Mr. Chips
23. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (with reservations…)
24. The Miracle Worker
25. Shawshank Redemption


I'm sure you all can add many more. Please do.