The Power of Film
There was a slew of movies last year labeled “pro-life:” Juno, Knocked Up, Waitress, Children of Men, Bella, and Lake of Fire. A new documentary Unborn in the USA takes an unflinching look at the pro-life movement. It’s a hot topic, and Hollywood seems to be leaning toward pro-life.
Another film on the topic of choice opens in theaters today. 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, a favorite at the Cannes Film Festival, depicts in stark realism the choice of a college student in Ceausescu’s Romania to have an abortion. Illegal in 1987, women wanting abortions were forced to find black-market operators who would perform the deed.
I didn’t just feel moved and shaken — I felt changed after it was over.
Reviews by Peter T. Chattaway (Christianity Today) and Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films Guide) are available and should be read before going to see the movie.
But before that, read a review by Jeffrey Wells, of Hollywood Elsewhere. Also a film critic, he’s not known for his conservatism. But his response to the film was: “I didn’t just feel moved and shaken — I felt changed after it was over.” That is the power of film.
The title tells us how far along one of the main characters is in her pregnancy. Toward the end of the movie, the audience is confronted with a graphic picture of the aborted fetus, which shook Wells to the core. He himself admits to having helped two girlfriends obtain abortions, but never realizing the grimness of the act until he saw this film.
I don’t think anyone would label this a “pro-life” film. I guess you could call it a “pro-reality” film.
I’m not sure films are swinging one way or another, but I do agree with the “pro-reality” twist. It seems to me a lot of films these days attempt to give us reality and not attempt to place a twist on it. This may have begun with realistic war films, which reminded us that war is not just about heroes (though there are many of those) but also about death and killing.
January 25th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I am a Messianic Jew. I, as, many of us struggled with the acceptance of Christ. We thought we would have to give up being Jewish, when in fact we found out the opposite, that we have become complete. I bought Dr. Rydelnik’s DVD, listed below to check out his testimony. I loved it! It was fabulous. I loved the way he was humble and teaches from a Jewish lifestyle perspective. He too, struggled with the belief in Yeshua (Jesus), until the evidence overwhelmingly drew him to the truth. If any, testimony could lead my unsaved Jewish family to Yeshua, this DVD, is a great one to use. I am so glad I found this and a way to lovingly share the gospel, through the Old Testament, with this DVD. Toda (Thanks) Dr. Rydelnik, this was awesome. I ordered more, to give out.
“Dr. Michael Rydelnik, Professor of Jewish Studies, Moddy Bible Institute, as he recounts his own personal journey of discovery in this 3-part series, “My Search For Messiah.”
February 21st, 2008 at 1:46 am