sustain:if:able kiwi

motorcycle diaries at film church

Tonite we’re watching Motorcycle Diaries at Gospel and film class . (Plot summary here.)

Since one of the aims of the course is to identify ways in which film may be utilised as a point of engagement for the gospel within contemporary society, and since the assessment includes a piece of work on how a Christian church could use and interact with the medium of film in communicating the Christian message, I’ve put together the following questions for a “popcorn” discussion.

[9 Q’s on Motorcyle Diaries for Film Church]

1. The trip through Central America occurred in 1952. How old where you at this time? What do you know of the events of this period of time?

2. What was the main theme in this film? What did you take away from it?

3. What was the most powerful scene in the film for you?

4. Consider the genre of road trip movies. They are a common movie theme; Thelma and Louise, Bonnie and Clyde, Mulholland Drive, Kings of the Road etc. How does “road trip” genre help you read this movie?

5. “Accented cinema” is defined by Hamid Naficy as follows; If the dominant cinema is considered universal and without accent, the films that diasporic and exilic subjects make are accented. […] [T]he accent emanates not so much from the accented speech of the … characters as from the displacement of the filmmakers. What strikes you as you listen to the “accented” cinema that is Motorcycle Diaries?

6. Theologically, this movie sheds some interesting light on the theme of the Incarnation. Luke’s gospel is shaped by the “travel narrative”, for in Luke 9:51, Jesus “sets his face toward Jerusalem,” yet it takes until Luke 19 for Jesus to get there. In Philippians 2:5-11, we see a “kenotic” Christology, in which Christ empties himself, becomes poor and humble. In the movie, Ernesto’s swim across the river on his birthday, can be seen as a “kenotic” movement, to cross the gap, choosing to live amongst the poor and marginalised. What strikes you about the Incarnation of Christ as you watch the movie?

7. This is a movie about the transformation of two young idealistic men. Describe the evolution in the two main character’s from beginning to end. How did they change? What of yourself can you see through these characters?

8. Has an engagement with people’s real life ever changed your perspectives on life?

9. Like the movie, many of us have experienced a “loss of innocence”, a time when we faced the reality of human suffering and injustice. How has watching this film opened your eyes? How has it changed you?

Note 1: thanks to brian for the initial spark.

Note 2: Anyone at Opawa want to actually help me kick this off in real-time, ie monthly film and discussion?