Mary of Nazareth

Blind Faith
By Daniela Delvescovo

Movie Review of
Mary Of Nazareth

Director: Jean Delannoy
Cast: Myriam Muller, Didier Bienaimé, Eric Jakobiak

“I am the handmaid of the Lord”
~ Mary

Mary of Nazareth is the story of the life of the mother of Christ. This low-budget film interprets it in a very simple way, making it great for younger viewers.

This unrated movie is appropriate for all ages. I especially recommend it for children who are preparing for their First Communion, because it will help give then a stronger faith foundation.

The film begins with Mary and Joseph’s first encounter and ends immediately following the death of Jesus. It is the story of Jesus’ life through Mary’s eyes.

Some scenes are quite comical to the discerning eye. For example, John the Baptist looks like a cave-man. With this said, I again stress that this movie would probably only really be enjoyable for younger children.

However, the message that can be drawn from this movie is one that everyone can benefit from: The value of blindly following the Lord. Blind obedience embodies Mary’s a life, a life we should all try to imitate.

You must concentrate on pleasing God alone,
and if He is pleased, you must be pleased.
~ Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Mary always followed God, no matter what He asked of her. He asked her to carry His child while she was still very young and before marrying Joseph. She could have been stoned to death as punishment, yet she agreed.

We should all have this kind of blind trust in God; to be good Christians, we must all be like Mary.

Questions for youth groups, families, and other small group discussions (please feel free to post comments below):

1. Why is it good to obey God even when we don’t understand why it’s good?
2. How do you think Mary felt when she gave birth to Jesus? Why?
3. How do you think Mary felt about Jesus’ death? Is there any feeling she might have had besides sadness and grief? Why?

This DVD can be ordered online.
See it on YouTube.
 

The Big Wedding

The Big Lie

By Jan McClure

Movie Review of

The Big Wedding

Director: Justin Zackham

Cast: Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl,

Amanda Seyfried, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes

I very rarely despise a movie, however this one is one of them.  From the previews, I thought this movie might be funny and might have something kind to say about Catholicism.  Instead it was very distasteful and I kept waiting for some possible redemption in the film, however that never happened.

This movie is rated R (which should have been my first clue).  There was nudity, sexual content and bad language. 

Don (played by Robert De Niro) and Ellie (played by Diane Keaton) are ex’s, and Don lives with Ellie’s former best friend, Bebe (played by Susan Saradon).  Don and Ellie’s adopted son, Alejandro (played by Ben Barnes), is about to get married. His Columbian birth mother, Madonna (played by Patricia Rae), is very Catholic and is flying in for the wedding. 

Madonna thinks that her son has been raised by very devout Catholics who share her belief in the Church’s teaching about the permanence of marriage. On the weekend of the wedding, Alejandro decides that, since he has been lying to his mother all these years about his faith life, he must ask his parents to pretend to be married. This means that Don’s girlfriend, Bebe, must move out. 

When Madonna arrives, she wants to meet the priest and she also wants to go to confession. The whole family ends up going to confession, and we get to view what happens there – and of course it is not exactly proper.  The priest (played by Robin Williams) is a recovering alcoholic, and the movie keeps referring to his former worldly ways.  Twice in the movie, he mentions that there are three forms of love (agape, phileo, and eros) but the film never names what they are.  (Apparently someone who made the film has had some Catholic background.)

Ellie and Don’s other son (played by Topher Grace) is a 29-year-old virgin who has been holding out for real love.  When he meets Alejandro’s biological sister Grace (played by Ana Ayora), he immediately falls for her and is ready to give in to temptation. Eventually he does so with Grace.  I felt so hurt and sad, as this gift can never be given again and it was now lost. The film of course portrayed it as a triumphant moment.

As the wedding is about to begin, arguments threaten to ruin the ceremony, and secrets of infidelity are revealed by all, including even Madonna, which I felt was adding to the worldly message that no one can or desires to be holy or chaste.

In the end, the couple get married by the priest in a quick exchange of vows, leaving out any reference to the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage and without any liturgy of the Eucharist.

The only semi-redeeming message of this movie comes when Bebe and Ellie, who had once been best of friends, talk about forgiveness and are reconciled.  Ellie also prods her ex-husband to make an honest woman out of Bebe, telling him that  if he loves her he needs to tell her with his words and with his actions, which is the Christian message of love. 



Questions for youth groups, families, and other small group discussions (and we hope you will post a comment below!):

1. Are chastity and purity attainable in today’s environment?  What can help us to live this way?
2. How are the three forms of love – agape, phileo and eros – important in marriage?
3. What is the definition of marriage? Why is it important to make it sacramental?