Movies/Scenes
Representing Love
- Shrek (2001)
- Shrek and the princess are both healed by their love for each other.
- A Beautiful
Mind (2001)
- See review at Cinema in Focus.
- The
Emperor's New Groove (2000)
- "The Emperor's New Groove" (Disney, 2000; rated G) is about a self-centered emperor who is transformed into a llama . . . and, in his search to become human again, learns some lessons about humility and love along the way. Whether the folks at Disney knew it or not, the plot is remarkably similar to the story told about King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-37, in which Nebuchadnezzar -- so pleased with his accomplishments as ruler of "magnificent Babylon" -- learns a lesson in humility at God's hands, as his madness forces him to eat "grass like oxen." When Nebuchadnezzar is restored, he praises God.
- Almost
Famous (2000)
- "Songs about love by people who don?t know how to love, is the ultimate deception." (See review at Cinema in Focus.)
- Fantasia
2000 (1999)
- A story of love lost and refound with Donald and Daisy Duck is told as Donald is Noah's assistant to build the ark and survive the great flood in the segment for Pomp and Circumstance. (Kirk VanGilder, Campus Minister, Gallaudet University)
- The
Hurricane (1999)
- Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a champion middleweight boxer, is imprisoned for life for murders he did not commit. After exhausting every possibility for appeal, he tells his wife that he wants her to divorce him and to move on with her life, saying, "I'm dead. Forget about me." The Hurricane uses his prison time to read, study, and eventually write a book about his life -- a book that is published and becomes a best seller, but which is then soon forgotten. Years later, a Black teen from the ghetto finds a copy of the Hurricane's life story at a used book sale, and buys it for a quarter. Moved by what he read, the young man, Lesera Martin, writes a letter to the prisoner, and begins a relationship and a process that eventually leads to the overturning of the conviction. At a pivotal moment, the Hurricane notes that it was "no accident" that Lesera had come across that book. He quotes Genesis 49 about himself, "Reuben, my firstborn . . . pre-eminent in pride . . . Unstable as water, you shall not prevail." He then contrasts his name to that of Lesera, a form of the name Lazarus, the one raised from death. The Hurricane tells Lesera that hate had killed Reuben and buried him, forgotten, in the prison walls, but Lesera's love had raised him and given him life once again. (Mark D. Johns, Instructor of Communication/Linguistics, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa)
- "Love is more powerful than hate. That's what the film was about." (Denzel Washington's acceptance speech for the Golden Globe Award)
- Tuesdays with Morrie
(1999)
- A quote by the main character Mori: "Death ends a life, not a relationship." (Rev. PCR Comninos, Richards Bay Presbyterian Church, Richards Bay, South Africa)
- Angela's Ashes (1999)
- Frankie's confession of his life and sins to Saint Francis. Priest: "God forgives you, and you must forgive yourself. God loves you, and you must love yourself. For only when you love God and yourself can you love all of God's creatures." (DVD ch 27)
- The
End of the Affair
(1999)
- I think this is an important, even astonishing, film that deals with issues of faith and love (and atheism) in a profound and moving way. It's also very sensual but in a humane (not Hollywood) sense. (Lynn Mason)
- The
Truman Show (1998)
- love he feels isn't in the script, compels Truman to leave his "paradise" (See review at Hollywood Jesus.)
- Life is Beautiful (1997-98)
- Guido as embodiment of love for family. (See review at Hollywood Jesus.)
- Titanic (1997)
- between Jack and Rose
- Critical Care (1997)
- Includes incredibly moving religious scenes that speak to the power of love and its eternality. (Lynn Mason)
- Jerry Maguire (1996)
- In the Mexican restaurant scene. Jerry and Dorothy's first 'date'. Jerry is angry at himself for not working hard enough on his last relationship (which had just broken up). Dorothy consoles him by saying, 'but maybe love shouldn't be such hard work' Jerry replies, 'yeh, maybe so'. This scene is a pivotal one in the movie (the theme song plays gently in the background, and it's a good opportunity to say "Love is hard alright! Look where it got God!" (Andrew McLean)
- On a homily for marriage and in particular the subject of the Creation story in Geneis and Adam's nuptial song to Eve 'You are at last bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.' The theme being that Adam found no satisfaction from any of creation but was complete in the creation of woman. In the movie Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise), is in love with an unmarried mother Renee Zellwegger and he is trying to explain his love for her. They meet a deaf couple in the elevator and they are signing. Zellegger can understand sign language and Cruise asks her what they said and they had signed You complete me an echo of the love sentiments of Adam to Eve. (Patrick Boyle)
- Breaking the Waves
(1996)
- Father Andrew M Greeley's "Homily" for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 9, 1997) draws from Lars Von Triers Cannes prize winning film "Breaking the Waves" in connection with John 3:14-21. He quotes Roger Ebert's comment on the film: "God not only knows everything, but he understands a lot better than we give him credit for." (R.J. Stohler)
- What if your Faithful love to your signifant other led you to become sexually unfaithful? Faith that is ready to sacrifice EVERYTHING for the wellbeing of the loved one. Is this love or an obsession?...
- Jerusalem (1996)
- This movie has the aura of an Ingmar Bergman production, with a series of twists and turns in the plot and thought-provoking motifs. It is based on the novel by Selma Lagerlof, and portrays Swedish peasant life around the turn of the 20th Christian viewers of this movie will likely be interested in the themes of: mainline versus apocalyptic-sectarian faith, authority and power, discerning the truth, suffering and sacrifice, love and forgiveness. I highly recommend Jerusalem because of theological grist for the the mill that it provides. (The Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson)
- Bed of Roses (1996)
- "Bed of Roses" was a movie I saw while on a women's retreat. A romance, and yet a story of grace. A florist delivers flowers to a young woman he sees at night crying at her window. From there, a romance buds and grows to the point of his asking her to marry him. However, the young woman in the film has not just a "shady" background, but a "shadowy" background, as she never knew who her parents were. she eventually learns to accept the florist's "unconditional love". A movie full of wonderful imagery of new life and rebirth using "nature in the city" (a florist shop full of flowers), and especially in a scene of the florist's own private roof-top garden, we get a picture of the "new heavens and the new Earth" with garden (of Eden?) in the foreground, and the city (of Revelation?) in the background. (Mary Organ, Kent Presbyterian Church)
- Dead Man Walking (1995)
- Love as action & commitment rather than emotion. (submitted by Alix Pridgen)
- Sister Helen: "I want the last face you see in this world to be the face of love, so you look at me when they do this thing. I'll be the face of love for you."
- Leaving Las Vegas
(1995)
- Ben's and Sera's tragically futile attempts at loving and redeeming each other.
- Ghost (1990)
- Issues of after-life, salvation by being a good person in a wonderful relationship with another person, damnation due to being a bad person. (Rev. Paul W. Mueller, DMiss)
- Forrest Gump (1987)
- I see the Hosea text as a pronouncement of God's never-ending love and of a constant courtship with us, even in light of our "whoredom". In light of that, I think Forrest Gump and his relationship with Jenny is helpful in understanding this text. Throughout the movie Forrest holds a deep love for Jenny, in spite of her flaws and her trysts with others. In the end, Forrest's love prevails and the two come together in marriage, with Forrest caring for her as she dies. Some may have trouble equating God with Forrest Gump, but I think the simplicity of the message of love here is what needs to be stressed, rather than seeing God as a man who sits on a bench saying, "Life is like a box of chocolates." (Shawn Stapleton)
- The Music Man (1962)
- Harold Hill undergoes a conversion. He's got "The Power" to really do what he thinks he's only hyping; what he's lacking is the confidence that he can really do it and of course an ounce or two of ethical formation. And then the town starts to love him not because of the quality of his product but because it's their own kids playing the instruments. So the town undergoes some sort of conversion too. They both experience some sort of Grace. (Sterling Bjorndahl)
- Mrs. Miniver (1960 TV)
- Dialogue excerpts on marriage and proposals at Reel Classics.
- On the Waterfront
(1954)
- See Theresa Shetler's paper, "'I?ll Be Back!' The Battle continues?On the Waterfront: Art Reflects Culture."
- The
Enchanted Cottage
(1945)
- "Stars Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young. She is tragically plain in appearance, downright ugly-looking to some. He is a once-handsome fighter pilot whose face is disfigured when his plane crashes. They meet when he is convalescing at the cottage where she works as a maid. They marry because (if I remember correctly) they each think the other is the best they will ever be able to do. Shortly after their marriage, they fall in love. This discovery causes them to consummate the union. The next morning, she is radiantly movie-star beautiful, and he is restored to his handsome self. The catch is, that this is the way they see each other, but outsiders still see them as their ugly selves, and treat them accordingly. The only friend they have with whom they can be themselves is a blind neighbor, who treats them according to their new self-confidence, which is itself based upon their new self-image created by love. I have preached this as an illustration of God's great love for us in bringing about salvation -- seeing us only through the eyes of love, and not through the eyes of the world, that stands ready to see only our faults and ugliness." (Adrienne Brewington, Hollis NY)
- Wee Willie Winkie
(1937)
- "The setting of this movie is 19th century British-occupied India. Shirley Temple and her widowed mother (June Lang as Joyce Williams), travel to India to live with grandfather/father-in-law, Colonel Williams. At first, the British outpost is an oppressive place, ruled with an iron military fist. Priscilla is a most curious, precocious child. After a series of adventures, she wins the hearts of everyone by challenging prejudicial assumptions of both friends and enemies. Her innocent, yet challenging questions are instrumental in helping Colonel Williams and Islamic freedom fighter, Khoda Khan to see the senselessness of violence, leading to a negotiated peace between the two enemies. Themes: the peaceful kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-9, especially verse 6), reconciliation transforming enemies into friends, children and God?s realm (Matthew 18:1-4), courageous love ( I John 4:18). Recommended for family viewing." (Reviewed by the Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson)
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
- See review by Martyn Smith.
