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I DON’ T KNOW HOW I’ M GOING TO LIVE WITH MYSELF IF I DON’ T STAY TRUE TO WHAT I BELIEVE.
Hacksaw Ridge
This winter saw the release of two films which dealt powerfully and movingly with the issue of faith in adversity. War drama Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss( Andrew Garfield), an American Seventh-Day Adventist and pacifist who refuses to pick up a weapon, even after enlisting to serve on the front line. After enduring bullying and a legal challenge during his military training, he is finally given permission to serve as a medic. But this persecution at the hands of his fellow soldiers will be nothing compared to the horror awaiting at the Battle of Okinawa.
Hacksaw Ridge is an extraordinary film, at once hard to watch and hard to look away from. Desmond Doss emerges as an unassuming hero, a man whose Christian faith leads him to quite literally walk into hell for the sake of others. His story stands as a profound challenge to all of us, raising the question not only of whether we’ ll stand up for our faith when it comes under fire, but whether we’ re truly prepared to live out Jesus’ s example of sacrificial love.
Andrew Garfield also stars in
Silence, the historical epic from director Martin Scorsese, released in January. This film offers a complex, troubling and ultimately revealing look at faith in adversity. Garfield plays Father Rodrigues, a young Jesuit priest who travels to Japan to search for his mentor, Father Ferreira( Liam Neeson), a man rumoured to have recanted his faith under torture. Based on the award-winning novel of the same name, Silence upturns our expectation of what the‘ triumph’ of faith might look like.‘ Rodrigues believes that he will be the hero of a story that we all know very well: he will be the Christ figure,’ says Scorsese.‘ But he learns that God’ s love is more mysterious than he knows and that God is always present, even in his silence.’
Film club: questions to ask
c Which films about characters struggling through adversity do you find most moving or inspiring? Why is this?
c Are there any films which you personally turn to for comfort during times of adversity in your life? How does their message help you?
c The Hollywood idea of the‘ triumph of the human spirit’ runs through many films. Do you think this idea fits in with biblical thinking about overcoming adversity? Why, or why not?
Damaris Media
This article comes from Damaris Media, who create free film resources for churches and community groups. Download exclusive videos, discussion guides and more at damarismedia. com. If you want to get in touch and let us know how you’ re using our resources, or to tell us what kind of resources would be helpful to you, email hello @ damaris. org. Free, official resources for Silence can be found at silence. damarismedia. com