November 2007 Movies
Man From Earth
What would a man be like who had survived from the early Paleolithic? And how could one have accomplished that? If you had the chance to opt for an immune system capable of healing wounds and thwarting deadly diseases over thousands of years, would you?
These are some of the questions posed at the beginning of this thought provoking video. The script encompasses a single conversation in which John Oldman, taking a surprise early retirement after ten years as a college history professor, attempts to explain to his colleagues that he has done just that—lived 14,000 years.
“I had a chance to sail with Columbus, but I'm not the adventurous type,” he claims early in the movie. His story addresses a wide range of questions, from the reaction of others when he failed to age to changes he says he witnessed in the planet and in human worldview over time, as well as what it was like for him to lose generation after generation of friends and family and move on.
Still, perhaps the most interesting insight offered by the film has less to do with John Oldman and his 14,000 years as an earthling than with the emotional fragility of his colleagues—and the viewer—when confronted with a possibility that butts up against modern concepts of what is possible and punches holes in some of our dearest beliefs.
Man From Earth is bound to be a transformative experience for every viewer on some level. Subscribers to Spiritual Cinema Circle will receive the DVD as part of their November collection. A free trial month of membership is available at the Web site.
—Chiwah
Amazing Grace
From Michael Apted and the makers of Ray , at a time when Western politics as usual could well be considered the scourge of the earth, comes a movie celebrating political heroism in another, perhaps equally dark era.
Amazing Grace is the story of William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), portrayed as the pivotal force behind the British abolition movement around the end of the eighteenth century. The story chronicles the courage and perseverance of this human rights activist and his supporters, male and female, as they gather evidence of the horrors of the slave trade and return to Parliament year after year to make their case for passing a law to end the British slave trade.
The hymn Amazing Grace was written by Wilberforce's friend, the minister John Newton (Albert Finney), a former slave ship captain who saw the error of his ways. Repenting, Newton secluded himself in a monastery but later emerged to encourage Wilberforce in his great cause.
If I may be so bold as to draw a parallel to today's political arena, I might say that Wilberforce's tenacity and refusal to leave the dirt under the rug bring to mind our own Dennis Kucinich. Brilliantly accomplished on all fronts, this award-winning PG-rated film is relevant today and a welcome inspiration for audiences of all ages. If you didn't catch it in the theaters, don't miss it on DVD.
—Chiwah
Darfur Now!
“The world turned its back, don't turn yours. Witness the genocide then act!”, is the message of this new film about the stories of six people--including Academy Award-winner Don Cheadle--from inside Darfur, Sudan. The genocide in Darfur has been described by the UN as “the world's greatest humanitarian and human rights catastrophe.”
For the last four years, thousands of people have been slaughtered by Sudanese troops and militias. “As humans we have a responsibility to do what we can to end this suffering instead of turning a blind eye. How can we be sure that it won't be us next?” ask these brave filmmakers.
Director Ted Braun was granted access to capture exclusive film of the Sudanese Liberation Army territory as the only members of western media allowed in since November 2006. The result is a powerful portrait of this human tragedy. Darfur Now! is a story of the hope, struggles and achievements of six different individuals--Don Cheadle, Hejewa Adam, Pablo Recalde, Ahmed Mohammed Abakar, Luis Moreno-Ocampo and Adam Sterling--that shows how the actions of a single person can make a difference to millions.
The film opens in LA and NYC on November 2 and in 14 additional cities one week later. Benefit rock concerts will be held on November 10 in many US venues. Check websites above for more information on how you can act on behalf of “Darfur Now!”.
—Christy Johnson
Beyond The Gates
Beyond The Gates is a magnificent film based on a true story of the efforts of an idealistic young male teacher (Hugh Dancy) and a Catholic priest (John Hurt) to help the people of Rwanda in the nineties.
I almost didn't play this DVD because I didn't think I could take another movie about blood and violence in the real world. But I'm so glad I changed my mind! Yes, there is violence, and a lot of blood. But the love and humanity of the film and the beautiful character development, not to mention the overall quality of the acting and production, made it a worthwhile movie.
Set in a European-run secondary school, the story leads up to the inevitable butchering of one class of Rwandans by another in an untenable peace being monitored by U.N. forces. We empathize with the young teacher and the priest, with the Rwandans who stand to lose their lives, and with the U.N. captain whose orders leave him powerless to take any preventive action.
I am amazed to have to report that I really liked this movie. I shed tears for them all, and for all humanity in this us-against-them world.
—Chiwah
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