Guadalupe Movie

Just a reminder that the film GUADALUPE (www.guadalupelapelicula.com) is opening today:

It is in Spanish with English subtitles; a feature length film in a telenovela style that blends a modern day search for faith with the dramatization of the story of the apparitions of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe to Sr. Juan Diego 475 years ago.

This is a film that goes well with The Nativity Story (www.thenativitystory.com) because the image of Guadalupe is of Mary who is pregnant: a message of hope to the people of Mexico in a time of great crisis .... not unlike the original Christmas story.

The Nativity Story Movie - Encore!

Here are some really great comments about The Nativity Story from Archbishop Vlazny of Portland, OR (the archdiocese where screenwriter Mike Rich and his family live):

http://www.sentinel.org/articles/2006-49/15127.html

This week I received a call from a diocese on the east coast asking about the idea of schools taking all the students to see the film... Absolutely wonderful idea!! After you read the Archbishop's comments, you may want to help your local parish sponsor a screening for students, seniors, adult faith formation groups, and so forth. I cannot think of a better way to contribute to ongoing faith formation in the "language" of today: film. Be sure to find a way for groups to get together after and talk about what impressed them most about the film. (You can find a list of the character's names at www.imdb.org and search for The Nativity Story.)

One way is to give each student or person watching the film a card (or a name tag) with the names of one of the characters on it (or a theme such as "journey", "faith", "hope", "gift"). Just before the film begins ask them to read the name and when they see that character (or notice the theme) in the movie, to watch the movie through that character's eyes. Afterwards, take a moment to let each student turn to the person next to him or her and say something about their character (even King Herod!) and what it means to them during this Advent time.

This is a way to give a "voice" to even the most shy person and to share faith using the film as a "space" for conversation and dialogue.

Enjoy the show~

PS You can check out the film study guide I wrote for the film at www.pauline.org

The website for the film is www.thenativitystory.com

The Queen Movie

Helen Mirren, who plays Queen Elizabeth II in this admirable film, ought to be crowned queen of the British Film Academy. Fresh off her portrayal of Liz the First, (the 2005 HBO made-for-television miniseries that won 9 Emmy’s including one for Mirren as best actress) she steps flawlessly into a role that humanizes – and sympathizes with - today’s queen of England. Mirren even looks like Queen Elizabeth II, from the hair, to the glasses, to the handbags, to posture, to wardrobe.

 

It is only going on ten years since Princess Diana, the mother of the queen’s grandchildren by Prince Charles, died in the tragic accident. The film is an examination of the Royal Family’s reaction (or lack thereof) to Diana’s death on August 31, 1997 through to her funeral on September 6th. The film moves effortlessly between news footage and dramatization, and imaginations of what must have gone on in the Queen’s mind and conversations in the household. I liked Michael Sheen’s portrayal of the Prime Minister Tony Blair and Helen McCrory as his wife; they were set up as a parallel to the Royal Family, thus showing the Labour Party man Blair in awe of the monarchy, his politics not withstanding. This ambivalent tension between the people (including politicians) and the monarchy must be what keeps it in existence.

 

 

 

Once again I was moved by Diana’s death, the passing of “the people’s princess”, and even the idea that the Queen actually felt something besides an attack of tradition at her passing.

 

This is a short film (about 1 hour and 43 minutes) and indeed like a snapshot of “the old girl” as my grandfather, who came from Birmingham, England, used to call her (even though he was about 25 years older than her!) He came to the USA when he was 16 years old, became a citizen, and died when he was almost 90 (just a couple of months short of Queen Elizabeth’s 1983 visit to San Diego where he lived; a visit he was so looking forward to!) He always admired the queen, and kept a book about the royal family on his bookshelf. Even though he never returned to England – and he could have – he always loved the Queen.

 

You could wait to see this one on DVD, but it’s bound to garner Mirren (and maybe Michael Sheen) some nominations.

 

I always admired the Queen Mother, but she’s portrayed in a rather unflattering way here. Hmm. But the film wants us to like Charles …. You decide!

Stranger than Fiction Movie

This exceedingly clever film is directed by the impressive Marc Forster who also gave us Monster’s Ball and Finding Neverland (and the upcoming The Kite Runner that should be really good, too, given Forster’s track record and that the book is such an excellent story.)

 

Story is the key to enjoying Stranger than Fiction, because as the narrator, Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson), of this story within a story within a story says, it is stories that will save us.

 

Howard Crick (Will Ferrell) lives by his wrist watch. He is an IRS agent who lives an unadorned life, works in an unadorned cubicle, and sleeps in an unadorned apartment. He has only one friend until he begins to audit the flamboyant Ana Paschal (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who refuses to pay the percentage of her taxes that go to the military defense machine and other categories to which she objects. We hear the voice of the disembodied narrator from the beginning and then find out that Howard not only hears her voice as we do, but realizes his life is going according to her narration.

 

Karen Eiffel is the narrator, the omniscient tortured chain-smoking story-teller, who is shocked to discover that her hero is a real person. To her, and a professor of literature (played by Dustin Hoffman) that Howard consults, the hero must die if the story is to live forever.

 

 

 

I found Stranger than Fiction fascinating and completely enjoyable; it reminded me of Sliding Doors because reality takes place simultaneously in different “spaces” so to speak. The film offers much to talk about from our human need for stories, to the responsibility of writers, to the story-tellers contribution to culture, to entertainment, be it comedy or tragedy (the professor's definition of what makes comedy and tragedy is worth considering, too), to the anonymity of life in the city. Stranger than Fiction is also about life and not just accepting roles or narratives that are mere categories we can be fit into or fit ourselves into; it’s about living deliberately – and joyfully. And heroes do not always have to die to be great.

 

Will Ferrell is not one of my favorite actors, but here he proves his talent by taking on a whole new persona; he's credible. Emma Thompson and Hoffman both give excellent performances, and Queen Latifah, as Karen’s assistant, is as elegant as ever. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a natural as the bright, peppy, colorful, kind and principled neighborhood baker.

 

If you like stories, be sure to see Stranger than Fiction, and if you love stories, make this film a must-see.

Happy Feet Movie

I know it has been months since I have posted regular updates on the films I have seen. But now I am going to try and keep up, though the reviews may be shorter.

 

You can visit http://americancatholic.org/movies/default.asp for the films I reviewed for the December issue of St. Anthony Messenger; for previously reviewed films between June and November, search for titles using the alphabetical list on the bottom of the page on the magazine’s site.

 

Happy Feet is quite a mixture of story themes played out as an animated musical version of last year’s Oscar Award-winning documentary film: March of the Penguins. (It also reminded me of the CRM motivational film that came out a few years ago, A Peacock in the Land of Penguins; see http://www.crmlearning.com/a-peacock-in-the-land-of-penguins).  These themes are: being different (Mumble – voice of Elijah Wood - is a baby Emperor penguin who cannot sing to search for a mate, but is born late and his only talent is tap dancing), tolerance, cultural diversity, family, community vis-à-vis individuality, tribalism, the environment and the food chain, and being willing to make sacrifices for the common, greater, good.

 

I also thought the penguin's elder leader, with the Scottish brogue and his invitation that Mumble "repent", along with the church on the hill with the graveyard that was near the oil or fishprocessing plant was an interesting "religious" gloss. How can you change who you are if you are born that way? Is one of the writer's commenting from an evangelical or Calvinist background that questions its tenets? No matter; the question is valid but perhaps lost by trying to do to much with this anthropomorphic tale.

 

The animated penguins are delightfulto look at, the science and effects of humankind on nature well-presented. It is directed by the noted Australian George Miller who also has Babe, Pig in the City, Lorenzo’s Oil, and the Mad Max trilogy to his credit. I think the film provides a fine platform to talk about the themes its four-member writing team introduced into the little-bit too long of a film.

 

Entertaining and thoughtful.

Nativity Story Movie Premiere at the Vatican

(The Vatican invitation we needed to enter the Hall)

 

In early November I was honored to be invited to the premiere screening of The Nativity Story at the Vatican on November 26th. I left Los Angeles on Friday, November 24th. I stayed at the Hotel Locarno (where some of the New Line staff stayed as well) just off the Piazza del Popolo, near the Spanish Steps. On Sunday the 26th some of our sisters stopped by to visit (and pick up copies of the two tie-in books Pauline Books & Media published to go with the film: The Nativity Story: Contemplating Mary’s Journey’s of Faith (written by eleven amazing women) and The Nativity Story: A Film Study Guide for Catholics that I had brought with me for our international book store located near the Vatican on Via del Mascherino/Borgo Angelico.)

 

 

Left to right

(Mike Rich, screenwriter; Wyck Godfrey, TempleHill Entertainment, producer; Shohreh Aghdashloo, Oscar nominee, (Elizabeth); Hiam Abbass, (Anna); Oscar Isaac (Joseph);

Catherine Hardwicke, director; Marty Bowen, TempleHill Entertainment, producer;

Alessandro Guiggioli, (Antipas, Herod’s son); Fardia Ouchani (Ruth, one of Mary’s neighbor’s in Nazareth); Zinedine Soualem, (Aaron, a father whose daughter is taken away when he cannot pay his taxes and Hiam Abbass’s husband in real life. Photo by Sr. Rose)

 

Around 4:30pm I joined the cast, producers, etc., and their families at their hotel and we all went via limos to the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. The New Line people had only been notified a couple of hours earlier that the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, would be attending and so all the access information was changed. By the time we got to the Hall, it was dark outside and the enthusiastic audience of about 7,000 people was already in their seats (which are made of wood and not all that comfy.) Archbishop John P. Foley, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, was the host for the evening and welcomed everyone so warmly, speaking in Italian and in English, and introducing the director, Catherine Hardwicke. Gigi Proietti, a prolific star of Italian film and television read Chapters 1 & 2 of both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, after which the film began (in Italian with English subtitles.)

 

(Left to right, Grace Rich, Mike Rich’s wife, Mr. and Mrs. Hardwicke, director Catherine Harwicke’s parents, and Mike and Grace Rich’s two daughters enter the Paul VI Audience Hall on Sunday, Nov 26th; photo by Sr. Rose)

 

 

At the moment when Jesus was born and placed in Mary’s arms, the crowd went wild. One of the producers told me after that he thought, “Oh, no! They think it’s the end of the film!” but I assured him that it was because (to me anyway), the Italians “own” the nativity scene; after all, St. Francis of Assisi created the first crèche’ in 1223 in Grecio. The applause at the end was huge.  I think Oscar Isaac who played Joseph was the star of the evening if you go by the reaction of the crowd as the stars exited the hall afterwards. I hope everyone who has ever asked for an authentic biblical film will go to see The Nativity Story now, during Advent, (otherwise, I never want to hear a complaint about Hollywood again, folks.)     

 

On the way home I got stuck in Paris overnight (at a hotel near the airport) because of a delay thatseparated me and my luggage). The highlight of that little sidetrip however was that I ran into the actress who played “Ruth” in the film, Fardia Ouchani at the airport and encountered another desperate American who was delayed, the screenwriter Scott Bugsby (The Rainbow Warrior). We were able to commiserate as we waited to get our tickets changed….

 

It was a lovely event and I am praying the film will do very well. 

(For my feature article on the making of The Nativity Story, visit www.americancatholic.org/messenger)

 

 

 

 

(Selena Liu, (waving) one of the contributors to The Nativity Story: Contemplating Mary’s Journeys of Faith, who made a special trip just for the Vatican screening.

This was taken as people were leaving the hall. Photo by Sr. Rose)

 

 

 

 

Advent Retreat This Saturday

NOW is the time take a little time out for yourself before you are overwhelmed with the holiday season rush

to reflect as you look forward to the coming year – we have a very special day planned with YOU in mind!!!

And, feel free to invite a special friend or a relative to share this time with you – there could even be a surprise or two....

Open Call's Advent-Winter Retreat

"The Season of Anticipation"

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2006 – 9:00am ‘til 3:00pm – Liturgy Following

    (arrive 8:30 to sign-in)

                                                                                              PLEASE RSVP  to ASSURE YOUR SPACE BY RETURN EMAIL

KarenBeatton@sbcglobal.net

 

Share the anticipation and gifts of the approaching

Christ kindling in us, the light of our own gifts and talents...

What is prayer to you?

What are your gifts?

What are you anticipating?  What are your expectations?

Lets explore together!

   Location:  Pauline Center for Media Studies 3908 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City

Join us in this spirited retreat at the Pauline Center located next to the 405 freeway south of 10 between Venice & Washington with comfortable seating where you will discover a variety of reflection space in the chapel; an extensive bookstore offering a wide selection of books, cassettes, cds, music, videos, and software – relax & schmooze on the green patio where you can enjoy a coffee machine that whips up your favorite cappuccino!

 

$20 includes continental breakfast and a lite lunch...