Movies/Scenes Representing Joy
- Chocolat
(2000)
- A mysterious, appealing woman Vianne appears in a small French town. She quietly challenges the religious establishment's hold on the people, by the generously hospitable way she lives and by her welcome of outcasts. The Mayor keeps the people in line by the force of his joyless, controlling personality, and has brought the church under his influence (he writes the priest's sermons, exhorting the people to fasting and abstinence). Vianne opens a chocolate shop, and the people start secretly visiting during Lent. They are torn between their religious duties and the vision of joy represented by Vianne's hospitality and wonderful food. She and the Mayor come into conflict, as he resents her power to attract the people and cause them to break the Lenten fast. Eventually the Mayor's midnight attack on her shop backfires on him, as he unwittingly tastes the chocolate and surrenders to his own need for joy and comfort. (Marnie Barrell, Auckland, New Zealand)
- Erin Brockovich (2000)
- "Erin Brockovich" is essentially a film about empowerment. A mother of three children is unemployed and has no source of income. She decides that she has to find a job at all costs. In her work at a small law firm, she discovers that she has very little respect from the other employees. She comes to believe that the women of the firm are jealous of her physical attributes when she is asked to change to more appropriate work clothing. She dreams of one day having a job where she is respected for what she brings to her position. She dreams of being viewed as a person of integrity. As the story unfolds, Erin develops a friendship with her boss that only strengthens with time because of her hard work and determination to do a good job. He strongly affirms Erin with several votes of confidence. As Erin works on her case, she receives acceptance from her co-workers gradually and also from those whom she wants to sign the petition. She also is required to show some great courage when she receives some threats to her family. Her case in a small California town that is plagued by bad water requires endurance from her and from her children and boyfriend/neighbor. The film depicts a journey of self-discovery for Erin. She finds that there are many obstacles that she must overcome, including dealing with the tension of not being with her children as much as she would like when she is working on her project for the town. The tension between working and not working is a strong one for Erin, who does not have the benefits of child support for her three children. As she gains the trust of the town, a sense of community between these people develops. They begin to understand that all of their medical problems are interconnected and that by joining together as one community they have a greater chance of achieving their goals. At the end of the film, Erin shows great joy at her accomplishments as a person in the working world (not to give away the ending). (Valerie Lyson Humphreys, Independence MO)
- Music of the Heart
(1999)
- Roberta has encounter with Mother and son. The mother wants her son to quit the violin class and says, "He has more important things to do than to play dead white men's music. Later on Robert confronts the mother and tells her "When he plays [the son] his whole face lights up. You should see it." Application: When has your face lit up? (Richard Reese)
- Chariots of Fire (1981)
- "I believe God made me for a purpose. But he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure."
