Arts and Culture

A Marvelous Experience

Back in March I received a telephone call from Cassie Zelic, the principal of Our Lady of Fatima School in Jackson Heights. She had arranged that a Queens movie theatre would open its doors one morning during the week to screen the film “Risen” for her seventh and eighth graders. I could not believe it, and I wondered how she persuaded the manager of the theatre that this was a good idea. She called to ask me if I would speak to the students after they viewed the film.

Though I hesitated, with some trepidation I accepted the invitation. What concerned me was my lack of experience in speaking to seventh and eighth graders. My audience is usually university students at St. John’s University. Though I had already seen “Risen,” I decided to watch the film again with the students. I thought watching their reaction might help me to find the right wavelength when I spoke with them after the film. I was determined not to speak to the junior high schoolers the way I lecture to my university students.

Interpretation On Target

All my fears proved to be unnecessary. As soon as the film ended the students broke into enthusiastic applause. Speaking to them about “Risen” was easy. The students intelligently answered every question I posed. Some of the students saw meanings in the film that I had missed. I thought their interpretation of the ending of the film was right on target.

As I began speaking to the students, I quickly felt at ease. I did not have to encourage the students to be enthusiastic about the film. In fact, their enthusiasm was infectious. The experience of discussing the film with them caused me to appreciate the film even more than I had previously.

Of course, part of what made the experience of watching the film with the students so enjoyable was the film itself. I think “Risen” is an exceptionally good film. Writing in the Jesuit weekly, America, John Anderson, suggesting that “Risen” might even revitalize a Christian viewer’s belief system, notes that the resurrection is “seen through the eyes” not just of a nonbeliever, but of one whose professional duty is to crush the nascent Christian cult of A.D. 33.

On the Internet I viewed interviews of people involved in creating “Risen.” Some pointed out that while there were several films about the crucifixion and death of Jesus, there were none specifically about the resurrection. Making the main character initially a nonbeliever proved to be a wise decision. It enables the viewer to experience the character’s journey of faith as he learns more about Jesus and becomes more attracted to Him. The scene when he first sees the Risen Christ I thought was done well.

At St. John’s University, I teach a course on “Philosophy and Film.” Tthe students watch 20 films, 10 at home and 10 in the classroom. All the films I have chosen are either classics or near-classics, and most students have not previously seen any of them. I can recall asking the students on the first day of class how many of them had seen “On the Waterfront.” None had seen it. Though initially stunned, I realized that the film is over 60 years old. How could college-age students have seen it!

Power to Provoke

What I observed with the seventh and eighth graders I also have observed with the students at St. John’s: film has a special power to touch people and can provoke people to reflect on what is important in life. Religious films, if they are done well, can have a special power to influence viewers in a beneficial way. But religious films may be the most difficult type of film to create. How do you film God or grace or a spiritual conversion?

When I first became seriously interested in film back in the 1960s, I thought television would lead to a new understanding and appreciation of film because so many great films were available on television.

Today, a seemingly unlimited number of great films are available both on television and through DVDs. Of course, a great deal of junk is also available. We have to be discriminating in our viewing. Seeing good films can help us to be more discriminating. Having the seventh and eighth graders view “Risen” was a step in the right direction.

Father Robert Lauder is a philosophy professor at St. John’s University, Jamaica, and author of “Pope Francis’ Spirituality and Our Story” (Resurrection Press).