Movie makers increasingly inspired by Biblical themes
Mumbai (AsiaNews) Topics drawn from the Holy Scriptures are" increasingly inspiring movie makers" because they find "a perfect basis for churning out blockbusters" and do so employing the "metaphoric and symbolic language used in Biblical literature", this according to Fr Anthony Charangat, director of Catholic Media Communication of the Archdiocese of Mumbai, who reviewed 'The Omen', a movie that tells the story of the birth of the Anti-Christ and uses Biblical numerology for its slated release on June 6, 2006. Here is Father Charangat's review.
In recent times, there has been a spate of films based on Biblical themes. The latest version of The Omen to be released on 06-06-06 is an illustration of one of such genre of movies being churned out of the cinematographic mill.
The Omen and its two sequels have been eminently successful and the remake of the 1976 version as well promises to be an equally runaway success. This is because on one level, although the messages of the Bible have a reference to immediate historical circumstances of the people of that time, on another they have trans-cultural relevance applicable to people at various times in history.
Topics that deal with the 'end times' have a special audience appeal as they have become a preoccupation with our generation which believes our world is hurtling to its disaster.
Recent events of catastrophic dimensionsnatural and man-madelike floods, tidal waves, earthquakes, typhoons, acts of terror, ethnic cleansing, communal violence, religious persecution prompt film producers and directors to interpret these events as a fulfillment of prophesies of the last days described in the Book of Revelation.
This is what The Omen attempts to demonstrate. Taking its cue from a verse of this Biblical book it depicts Damien branded with the mark of the Beast (the numerical sequence 666) as the Antichrist, the spawn of Satanthe father all evilwho will come at the 'end times' to establish the kingdom of evil struggling against the kingdom of God established by Christ.
In the person of Damien and pointing to the link between him and the growing episodes of personal and terrifying global evil in our world, the film indicates that the Antichrist has arrivedthe Armageddon is upon us (the final battle between good and evil).
The film does well in showing that evil (the devil) is not just an abstract concept or figment of the imagination, but has a human face and is real and concrete in the events that have come to pass in our times.
It also uncovers the path and progress of evil. It begins with a small individual lie by the ambassador Robert to protect his wife Cathy from the trauma of learning the shocking news of having lost her son in childbirth. But in doing so he opens the doorway to global evil.
The downside of such movies being made by producers with insufficient knowledge of interpreting scriptures is that they offer literal and often out-of-the-context meaning to symbolic texts that have to be viewed in the totality of the Biblical message.
Evil cannot be defeated by perpetrating another evil, like having to recourse to violence and killing, which Roberts intends to in order to get rid of his son. This will only result in the clash of civilisations and the destruction of all. The kingdom of God is of truth, justice, peace and love.
The most important benefit that films derive from using the aura of authority of Bible-based plots, no matter how valid or reliable the treatment of the subject is, that it gives it them a semblance of credibility.
Such assurance caters to the insatiable desire to discover some certitude of truth. The Bible is considered as one of the world's best literatures, covering the whole gamut of characters, emotions, experiences and issues related to humankind and naturally becomes the ready basis for film scripts.
As the metaphoric and symbolic language used in Biblical literature is awe-inspiring and is replete with the element of drama of a high intensity, it lends itself readily to making suspense horror thrillers, allowing film producers and directors to use vivid imagination, latest film technology, photography and other effects to draw record crowds to viewing their films.
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06/09/2004
