sustain:if:able kiwi

male spirituality at the movies

I went to see Men’s group at the movies today. Australian made, it is a slow moving, but excruciatingly honest inspection of what it’s like to be male. It is the story of 6 men, meeting weekly to talk. Over time they begin to explore the pain of their fathers, the loneliness of relationships and the bleakness of their grief. It takes time, but they realise that men can go on a journey of friendship and intimacy. Recommended viewing for all men IMHO.

I like to place alongside the movie Phil Culbertson’s New Adam: The Future of Male Spirituality which I found hugely helpful in my thinking about male spirituality. The book explores Bible texts that challenge men – Abraham’s relationship with his sons, David’s relationship with his sons, Jesus masculinity – and what it means to be male today.

And so for years when I pastored at Graceway Baptist, every Thursday fortnightly a group of men would meet. Since so much male conversation is defined by what we do and who we cheer, the two groundrules were no agenda and no sports talk, which left the challenge of how could we as men define our relationships. That was a great experience to be part of.

pink panther 2 as seriously theological film

I undertake a monthly film review for the Methodist denominational magazine. With Easter holidays upon us, the challenge has been set. I need to find both a family film, and one that can sustain a depth of theological reflection. When all else fails, enter Pink panther 2. Amid the chuckles from Taylor’s young and old, the following conclusion was written:

Inspector Jacques Clouseau functions as the fool. While not a theme common to contemporary Christianity, it has fascinating roots in the Christian tradition. Paul describes his ministry as that of being a fool for Christ in 1 Corinthians 4:10. Georges Rouault painted Jesus as a clown, Dostoevsky described Jesus as the fool in “The Brothers Karamazov,” while the movie “Godspell” portrayed Jesus with red clown shoes, suspenders and Superman T-shirt.

Good clowning sets worlds of success and failure against each other, in the process provides insight into what is real and meaningful. On that basis, take a bow Inspector Jacques Clouseau and “Pink Panther 2,” for amid the humour, a Christ figure subverts many of the values of our media saturated culture.

priestly presence: faith in Gran Torino film

I enjoyed, in a disturbing sort of way, the movie Gran Torino. Clint Eastwood is superb as the racist, aging American, and the depiction of American urban ethnic life highly disturbing. This is suburban front porch theology at it’s gritty best. Into all this steps a young priest Father Janovich. It’s worth watching the movie for this character portrayal alone, for how does the media portray religious leaders?

Early on Father Janovich is dismissed, in the words of the acerbic Clint Eastwood, “an overeducated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of superstitious old ladies and promise them everlasting life.” Ouch!

Despite the rebuff, the priest remains pastorally present. His patience ensures a gradually earned respect. His initial homily drips syrup, although it does prove strangely prophetic, for death is indeed bitter-sweet for so many in Gran Torino. His entry into the pub for a drink with Clint is a significant turning point and shows the power of being present and persistent, and of entering the turf of another. The Father’s ability to listen and in that listening issue a prophetic challenge for Clint to explore life is another important pastoral moment. His awareness of local issues, his networking with other community figures and his willingess to be a peacemaker shine through. His final homily shows the power of storytelling earthed in growing pastoral relationships.

In the end, Father Janovich attempts at at-one-ment are upstaged by two other characters (trying not to give the plot away and I have more to say on this in a later film-review). Nevertheless, for a contemporary movie, it is a surprisingly positive priestly portrayal.

film review of Wall-E

Here is my latest film review, of Wall-E; mixing film, faith and U2’s Beautiful Day

WALL-E
A film review by Rev Dr Steve Taylor

514 words

Wanted: Advent movies for family faith formation

An email a few weeks ago, got me thinking:
> > I am working on some Advent practices for our Community. I would like each family to watch a movie with Advent themes however I don’t have a clue as far as to any good movies with Advent theme’s. I am wondering if you have any suggestions.

Wanting to involve generations, here are four for starters. Any other ideas for my friend?

Narnia is obvious one. Since Advent is about waiting, it would be interesting to contrast Mr Tumnus with the Beavers in terms of how to live life under dominating narratives.

The nativity – I really like how it brings out the reality of living under Empire and the precariousness of peasant existence.

The motorcyle diaries – bit vulgar in places, but the scene where “che” swims the river to be with the lepers (on his birthday!) is a fantastic image of Incarnation

Over the hedge might be interesting, as it offers a critique of Western eating habits and consumer lifestyles, which does have echoes with consumption at Christmas – see my film review here

highly commended

I write regular monthly film reviews for Touchstone, the Methodist denominational magazine. My February 2007 review of the New Zealand film, ‘Out of the Blue’ – was recently Highly Commended in the ARPA (Australasian Religious Press Association) awards. Here is the judge’s comments:

I thought this piece brought out all the lovely elements of New Zealand – it was quite beautiful! I would have liked to have seen less questions and more answers though. And also more Christian input throughout the piece, instead of only at the end.

Read my review, which is included below, then let me know what you think. Do you agree? Should I have provided more answers? And should (and how) could the Christian input be woven in through out?

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missional movies

I used British film, Grow your own, in the missional church leadership class today, and it worked a treat.

We had spent the morning looking at the character of missional leadership, which is often fairly hard-hitting, as we realise how deeply our understandings of leadership are shaped by cultural narratives of entrepreneur/go getter, rescuer and practical knowledge provider in contrast to the leadership encouraged by Luke 10:1-12. So we needed some breathing space and Grow your own worked well.

Other movies I have thought of using are Across the Universe and Whale Rider. What about you? What movies best sum up for you the missional church conversation? While you have a think, this is my recent Grow your own film review …

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Grow your own

There has been lots of internet ink spilt in recent weeks by people seeking to define missional church. Save your words and simply go and watch “Grow your own,” a slow moving British comedy drama. Against a backdrop of gardening, a complex range of issues are explored.

For those recently seeking to define missional, note
1. a story based in ordinary lives,
2. the conflict between comfortable pasts and painful new narratives
3. the ability to subvert existing unjust structures rather than start new shiny things
4. the power of what can happen when you trust yourself to organic processes
5. the importance of welcoming the stranger in whom are found the keys to unlock pain and grief and bring healing

That’s missional church.

prince caspian

Went to see Prince Caspian, the latest Narnia installment, on Monday. First screening in New Zealand!!

Great movie. Better than Lion, Witch, Wardrobe – more humour, more humanity. Use of lighting was superb. Less overt theology though. Strong female characters, it was more a movie about Susan and Lucy than about Peter and Edmund.

sifting the spin and reviewing golden compass

I have a bit of fun being paid to write monthly film reviews for a church magazine. Which is great, except when I’m on January holiday. So with so much talk about Golden Compass, I decided to offer the job of reviewer to my 10 year old daughter. I’ve done this before with Lion, Witch, Wardrobe and she loved it. It gives the two of us time together, it gets her thinking about the movie and it is a serious buzz for her as she gets paid to be a writer. So we went on Sunday night and worked on the review together Monday morning.

My daughter walked out of the movie and announced somewhat crossly that she could not understand why the movie was rumoured to be anti-God. We had a good talk about that and she decided that the movie was not some much anti-God, but anti-groups that seek to control people’s search for truth.

So I asked her what groups (including churches) could do to avoid controlling people and she decided that they should encourage free talk and allow people to think for themselves. (Which, I noted to her, was exactly why I had wanted to see the movie with her. So a good lesson learnt about needing to judge something for ourselves.)

So did she like the movie? Not at all. Too dark – the setting of dusty academia or chilly North. No characters to admire. Lyra is brave, but also too headstrong for my 10 year old.

I will put the full film review up once it’s appeared in print. Until then, here’s a side thought I was left pondering. Lyra grows up in an adult world and meets adults who harm children. What does a movie like Golden Compass mirror in terms of the formation of children? Isn’t the most disturbing part of Golden Compass the fact that children can live in worlds made profoundly unsafe by adults who are meant to protect them and create a childhood to be a childhood?

atonement movie

Atonement = at-one-ment, the theological claim that in Christ, past and present and future are redeemed.

Atonement the movie is must see. Well acted, superb soundtrack, with wonderful moments of cimenatic beauty, and a intelligently complex plot. Theologically, the plot explores the complex realities of at-one-ment. Take the scene in which the adult Briony comforts the dying Frenchman. The red curtain against the white hospital ward is both artistic and theological profound.

Can you unravel the pain of the past?

Save this film for a Lenten movie series, alongside Lion, Witch, Wardrobe and Matrix. But you would want six movies for the six weeks of Lent. So what would be your other three movies?

recent film reviews

Here are a bunch of film reviews I’ve done in the last few months. The deal is that I write them for a monthly newspaper and they generously allow me to publish them on-blog at a later date. I try to do a mix of family films, arthouse, New Zealand films and populist and to engage each film firstly on it’s merits as a film, and secondly to offer some gospel connections. It’s a demanding discipline, but well-worth it because it keeps me gospel-thoughtful and culture-facing.

So here is Amazing Grace a probing of the life of William Wilberforce on the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery; Eagle vs Shark a New Zealand comedy; Mr Bean’s Holiday a second attempt at turning TV comedy into cinema-tainment ; Shrek 3 a family movie in the Pixar animation stable; Once a wonderful film about migration and contemporary relationships, set in Dublin.

My other film reviews over the years have included:

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film and faith online

I am spending the day with my Bible College of New Zealand Faith and Film class. Rather than lecture, together we are working on a website, film and faith – online – from a Kiwi perspective. I am providing the coffees. They are writing the reviews and building the website (we are using a wiki) over the day. It will be fascinating to see what develops by the end of today.

Once we have the reviews up, the class and I will watch, fascinated, to see what happens. Two of the class learning outcomes are:

– elaborate some of the key characteristics of contemporary New Zealand culture as portrayed in New Zealand films and reflect on these from a Christian perspective
– identify ways in which film may be utilized as a point of engagement for the gospel within contemporary society

So, if we build a website about film, exploring film from a New Zealand and Christian perspective, what will result as a point of contemporary engagement? Will other’s comment? Will other’s want to join and add reviews (anyone can apply simply by asking)? Will the class keep wanting to write reviews once the day is done? Will the next class (I run Faith and Film every 2 years) want to build on today?

It’s fun. It’s a good way to learn and be together with students. It might even be useful. Imagine that. A seminary class that is actually useful!

why on earth would you preach a sermon on shrek?

As part of last Sunday’s “gospel according to Shrek” service, a creative and talented church member added another verse to that well-known children’s song, If I were a butterfly. Here is the Shrek verse.

If I were an ogre called Shrek, I’d sit enjoy God’s creation for a while
If I were a lovely princess, I’d thank you God with my beautiful smile
If I were a puss n boots cat, I’d thankyou God by tipping my hat
But I just thankyou father for making me me,

Anyhow, over the week, there has been some fairly hostile comments in response to my posting of my gospel according to Shrek sermon. One commenter asked: “Where do you guys come up with such ideas?”

A fair enough question that I’ve spent the week pondering. It’s easy to see a finished product, and to forget that a fair amount of internal reflection goes on prior.

I was recorded today for my regular Viewpoint slot on local Christian radio and I considered the “why preach a sermon on Shrek question?” in the process. Here is my (verbal) introduction:

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