Movies/Scenes Representing
Passing on the Mantle / Passing on the Tradition
- Chocolat (2000)
- This movie takes place in a small town in France in 1959. The town has always expressed their community life using the word ?tranquilite? (tranquility). You knew what was expected of you, you knew what your place was. And if you happened to forget, someone would remind you. They trusted the wisdom of ages past, lived with the values of tradition, family, and morality. Into this town comes Vianne, played by Juliette Binoche. She does not go to church, has a daughter without a father present, and has the gall to open a chocolaterie right in the middle of Lent! As she opens and conducts her business, it becomes clear that she is anything but traditional. Vianne does nothing by the book. She does nothing out of obligation, but everything out of love. It is her encouragement that brings Josephine out of her abusive marriage. It is her encouragement that brings Armande together with her grandson. It is her encouragement that brings a widow of 30-some-years out of mourning and into a new relationship. The town is transformed by her chocolaterie and her grace. (Carla Thompson Powell, Livonia, MI)
- Smoke Signals (1998)
- Victor retrieving his father's personal effects. (Ann Fontaine, Lander WY)
- The Postman (1997)
- The Kevin Costner guy picks up the postman cap as he buries its previous owner. "Thanks for being there for me." (DVD Chapter 12)
- John is sworn in as a postman (DVD Chapter 17) - the tradition continues as new postal workers are sworn in (DVD Chapter 30)
- A Walk in the Clouds
(1995)
- A vineyard that has existed for generations is destroyed by fire. Yet, there is hope, because the root of the original vine is still alive. From it, the vineyard is regenerated. I think this would be a great illustration for the Root of Jesse. (Kris Sallee Pleasant Plains, IL)
- City Slickers (1991)
- Early in the film, Billy Crystal's character is getting outfitted for the cattle drive, but can't find a real cowboy hat that suits him. He ends up just wearing his same old baseball cap. When Curly, the old-time cowboy, dies, Billy Crystal's character wears Curly's hat away from the gravesite -- it is a transformative moment for him as he becomes the leader of the group and gains understanding of the meaning of his life. (submitted by Amy Parker, Charleston, West Virginia)
- The Natural (1984)
- After Hobbs breaks his bat "Wonderboy", the batboy brings him a bat he has made that he uses to hit the climactic dinger. (Darrel Manson, Artesia CA)
- Return of the Jedi
(1983)
- Luke Skywalker with the apparitions of Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda.
- Yentl (1983)
- Yentl seeks to carry on her father's traditions. (Marie Loewen.)
- Star Wars (1977)
- Obi Wan Kenobi teaching Luke Skywalker lightsaber technique - Luke picks up Obi Wan's lightsaber. (Ann Fontaine, Lander WY)
- Roots (1977- TV)
- A verbal passing on as each generation is told of Kunte Kinte and just a bit of what happened in each generation. (Darrel Manson, Artesia CA)
- Fiddler on the Roof
(1971)
-
Fiddler on the Roof works brilliantly to illustrate the primary tension of Paul's Letter to the Galatians: life of the Spirit v. life under the Law - or Tradition. I had found Galatians tough to teach because it was too easy to set the formula as (1) Paul is correct, (2) the legalists are stupid, (3) therefore learn Galatians 3:16 "I have been crucified with Christ...", memorize the Fruit of the Spirit and then call it a day. However, the book made no sense without explaining the powerful pull of the legalizers upon not only the Hebrew Christians but upon the Greeks converts who were now hungry for moral boundaries after being saved from their libertine culture. Imagine a formerly debauched fraternity boy first converting and then struggling how to shape his new life.It all came together through the first scene of Fiddler. Tevye walks around the village, introduces the town folk and then discourses upon TRADITIONS! He asks: "Why do we have these traditions? It is because they help us to know who we are and what God expects of us." All of this was emphasized by the film editing that depicted a different Jewish symbol with every pounding pulse of the song.Use of the film instantly crystalized the issues of Galatians for my class. It explained why Paul had such a challenge when writing his letter: he had to argue for the superiority of life under the gospel as directed and energized by a seemingly ephemeral Holy Spirit in contrast to the life under the Law with its tangible moral and social boundaries provided by Old Testamant signs, symbols, customs and precepts. The film was so powerful that it became a touchstone for the entire eight weeks of my course. (Duncan Maysilles, Atlanta, GA)
-
