Yesterday, it was so encouraging to see about 18 people show up for our third Mosaic Movie Connect Group screening: Sophie Scholl -- the Last Days. With minimal action, the movie depends on the acting, which is stellar, and the plot which is gripping. The story is chilling in its authenticity, and so strong that when we ended and rolled the credits, no one moved or spoke for three minutes. It has that effect. This movie is profound!After a simple bagel dinner and an ice-breaker group quiz, Ryan and I led discussion around the following topics:
- Is it OK to lie to protect others? Is it OK to lie to evil people?
- What would we have done in Sophie's place?
- What would we have done and said if we were her parents? Or if it were our child in this situation?
- How does Sophie present a model of how believers can act in the face of evil? Or simply in the presence of unbelievers?
- What is different about this film's portrayal of a Christian than that of a typical Hollywood movie? Or even of that of a typical "Christian" movie?
The discussion was thoughtful, and everyone participated enthusiastically. I personally gleaned insight into the movie's possible "anti-American involvement in Iraq" message from Ryan's analysis. (Apparently this may have been reading more in than was intended -- see Ryan's posted comment below.) Watch for my review of this powerful movie on Tuesday. The next group screening will be The Incredibles on Saturday April 13th.
Copyright 2008, Martin Baggs
There were a couple of comments made in the film by the anti-Nazi characters that Hitler was only prolonging a war that couldn't be won and the German people were tired of war and wanted peace. In the U.S. today, we hear many of these same comments by anti-war activists. They claim President Bush is only prolonging a war that can't be won and the American people are tired of war and want peace. It was no secret that Germany was against the war in Iraq and it is interesting that Sophie Scholl is a German made film that was released in 2005. Having said that, I think the similarities are merely coincidental and were not intended by the director. I read an interview with him on the official Sophie Scholl website and didn't get even the slightest hint that this was his intent. I believe the director intended those comments to remain within their historical context: Nazi Germany in 1943. Besides, the difference between the Nazi's start of WWII and the U.S. regime change in Iraq are vastly different.
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