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by PAM
It took five years before I finally mustered the will to watch this two-hour saga of a film from 2014. I wanted to see it when it was first shown, but the moment I learned about how grim and dark it was, both in storyline and film making techniques, from film critics reviews, I retreated. I was not ready yet those past years to taint the Holy Week memories I had as a little child with my siblings and our deceased mother, huddled in our little sala, eating home-cooked merienda - mother's concoctions - watching biblical films,
such as "Noah's Ark", "Jesus of Nazareth" and other children's films, such as those depicting the lives of children saints in Lourdes and in Fatima who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary. I was not ready to blemish those memories with a grim film that could ruin Holy Week traditions for me.
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| The epic saga that was anything but... ...uhm, biblical? |
This year, it's been different. I am trying to decide on something big... and I have been torn between love... and mighty annoyance (hahaha...); several years of inspired service that is begging to be continued until the 'time is right' to pass on the baton to God's chosen successor vs. a barren do-as-you're-told situation, in which I am coerced to abandon dreams and aspirations as a leader and follow instructions without much thinking - for the sake of uniformity just because one believes that uniformity is achieving order, and order leads to success; and sealing a meaningful legacy with a 'sweet kiss', so to speak vs. resuming an 'old affair' with intellectually stimulating pursuits that grow irresistible by the day because of a potentially life-changing experience that will benefit many... plus it leaves time for the self and loved ones. Yes, it is truly tough... and it is, indeed, requiring deep contemplation. And yet, it isn't up to me... it all depends on God's plans. I am a mere servant, and so, I submit myself fully and completely to His will - as before, as now... as always.
As such, I needed another perspective... while I actively pursued our usual family Holy Week tradition and practice, I thought I'd mix it up with something else - watching a Holy Week-themed film. And I thought of "Noah" - the film by Darren Aronofsky that starred the fine, fine actor, Russell Crowe in the title role, with Jennifer Connelly (Naameh), Emma Watson (Ila), Ray Winstone (Tubal-Cain), Logan Lerman (as Ham), Douglas Booth (as Shem), Leo McHugh Carroll (as Japheth), and the brilliant Anthony Hopkins (as Methuselah). But, I was wrong... I did not find utter enlightenment in the film. I should have listened to film critics, religious and evangelists. It was a lovely film, yes... if it did not claim anything related to the The Creation in the bible, that is. The critics, and even Aronofsky himself, are correct - it was the 'least biblical' film there was! I thought it was merely seeking to make a statement about taking care of planet earth, which was once destroyed because of man's folly, and was made to thrive again by 'The Creator', as referred to in the film, in a 'second chance' covenant sealed with a rainbow.
And yet, the film had its moments. I particularly like the conversation between Naameh and Methuselah, in which Methuselah justified the impending destruction of all, including Noah's decision to make sure that the existence of man ceases with his family as the last men to live, as part of his obedience to the will of 'The Creator'. The world must be given a second chance to flourish without the wickedness of man, Noah thought, and which
Methuselah supported. Therefore, Noah and Naameh's two other sons - Ham and Japeth, must not seek wives to reproduce; and that Shem, who was with Ila, must not be allowed to reproduce either. Naameh was incredulous. She said, "I can't believe that's true. Not when I look at my sons. All they desire is love. Isn't that all their hearts need to be good?"
When Ham was visibly distraught for losing the girl he meant to make his wife, and whose death Noah allowed, adhering to his belief that man's existence must cease, Noah explained to Ham, "I'm very sorry about that girl. And I am sorry for you. But we have been entrusted with a task much greater than our own desires."
Father and mother... we see the contrast in this case. The mother seeks what will and can make her brood happy and good while the father remains steadfast in obedience and adherence to duties - no matter the consequence. Ah, how we must all be wishing that duty and love are one and the same!
But I do think that the highlight of the film was the conversation between Ila and Noah, when Noah explained why he did not kill the twin daughters of Ila and Shem even when he believed before their birth that he was duty-bound to do so, "I looked down at those two little girls, and all I had in my heart was love." And so, there it is... duty vs. love, love won! But with 'The Creator' allowing Noah's decision to keep the twin girls alive, He must
have meant duty AND love can be one and the same, too. It was a beautiful moment in the film... and a beautiful realization for the audience... well, at least, this audience.
The treasure of the film poured out in that scene, and it continued to pour out when, after Noah humbly admitted his failure to obey God by allowing Ila's twin girls to live, "I failed Him", he said; and Ila said, "Did you? He chose you for a reason, Noah. He showed you the wickedness of man and knew you would not look away. But then, you saw goodness, too. The choice was put in your hands because he put it there. He asked you to decide if we were worth saving. And you chose mercy. You chose love."
Ah, there it is... my clue!
And yet, the biggest moral of the film, I think, is what the emotionally tortured son, Ham, said to Ila as he bid her farewell, leaving the family to live on his own. "For all it's worth," he said, "I'm glad that it begins again with you. Maybe we'll learn to be kind."
So, yes, no matter what we decide to do in this life... we can't go wrong by going for, and going with kindness - true kindness, not self-righteousness or quickness to judge without truly knowing and clearly understanding, or worse, deciding that one's self is kinder than the rest without 'looking in the mirror' first. True kindness... goodness from the heart that bears positive outcome that is love... and not merely for show nor feeding the ego by being widely liked and being popular.
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Image credits: All mages above were borrowed from Rotten Tomatoes - thank you.
***
As such, I needed another perspective... while I actively pursued our usual family Holy Week tradition and practice, I thought I'd mix it up with something else - watching a Holy Week-themed film. And I thought of "Noah" - the film by Darren Aronofsky that starred the fine, fine actor, Russell Crowe in the title role, with Jennifer Connelly (Naameh), Emma Watson (Ila), Ray Winstone (Tubal-Cain), Logan Lerman (as Ham), Douglas Booth (as Shem), Leo McHugh Carroll (as Japheth), and the brilliant Anthony Hopkins (as Methuselah). But, I was wrong... I did not find utter enlightenment in the film. I should have listened to film critics, religious and evangelists. It was a lovely film, yes... if it did not claim anything related to the The Creation in the bible, that is. The critics, and even Aronofsky himself, are correct - it was the 'least biblical' film there was! I thought it was merely seeking to make a statement about taking care of planet earth, which was once destroyed because of man's folly, and was made to thrive again by 'The Creator', as referred to in the film, in a 'second chance' covenant sealed with a rainbow.
And yet, the film had its moments. I particularly like the conversation between Naameh and Methuselah, in which Methuselah justified the impending destruction of all, including Noah's decision to make sure that the existence of man ceases with his family as the last men to live, as part of his obedience to the will of 'The Creator'. The world must be given a second chance to flourish without the wickedness of man, Noah thought, and which
 |
| Duty vs. love... what is greater? Why can't it be duty AND love? Can they be one and the same? |
When Ham was visibly distraught for losing the girl he meant to make his wife, and whose death Noah allowed, adhering to his belief that man's existence must cease, Noah explained to Ham, "I'm very sorry about that girl. And I am sorry for you. But we have been entrusted with a task much greater than our own desires."
Father and mother... we see the contrast in this case. The mother seeks what will and can make her brood happy and good while the father remains steadfast in obedience and adherence to duties - no matter the consequence. Ah, how we must all be wishing that duty and love are one and the same!
But I do think that the highlight of the film was the conversation between Ila and Noah, when Noah explained why he did not kill the twin daughters of Ila and Shem even when he believed before their birth that he was duty-bound to do so, "I looked down at those two little girls, and all I had in my heart was love." And so, there it is... duty vs. love, love won! But with 'The Creator' allowing Noah's decision to keep the twin girls alive, He must
 |
| "...it begins again with you." |
The treasure of the film poured out in that scene, and it continued to pour out when, after Noah humbly admitted his failure to obey God by allowing Ila's twin girls to live, "I failed Him", he said; and Ila said, "Did you? He chose you for a reason, Noah. He showed you the wickedness of man and knew you would not look away. But then, you saw goodness, too. The choice was put in your hands because he put it there. He asked you to decide if we were worth saving. And you chose mercy. You chose love."
Ah, there it is... my clue!
And yet, the biggest moral of the film, I think, is what the emotionally tortured son, Ham, said to Ila as he bid her farewell, leaving the family to live on his own. "For all it's worth," he said, "I'm glad that it begins again with you. Maybe we'll learn to be kind."
So, yes, no matter what we decide to do in this life... we can't go wrong by going for, and going with kindness - true kindness, not self-righteousness or quickness to judge without truly knowing and clearly understanding, or worse, deciding that one's self is kinder than the rest without 'looking in the mirror' first. True kindness... goodness from the heart that bears positive outcome that is love... and not merely for show nor feeding the ego by being widely liked and being popular.
***
Image credits: All mages above were borrowed from Rotten Tomatoes - thank you.
***
