Posted on 12/04/2006 7:52:47 PM PST by Pyro7480
'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children
By John-Henry Westen
NEW YORK, December 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A review of New Line Cinema's The Nativity story by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States, points out that the film, which opened December 1, misinterprets scripture from a Catholic perspective.
While Fr. Geiger admits that he found the film is "in general, to be a pious and reverential presentation of the Christmas mystery." He adds however, that "not only does the movie get the Virgin Birth wrong, it thoroughly Protestantizes its portrayal of Our Lady."
In Isaiah 7:14 the Bible predicts the coming of the Messiah saying: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel." Fr. Geiger, in an video blog post, explains that the Catholic Church has taught for over 2000 years that the referenced Scripture showed that Mary would not only conceive the child miraculously, but would give birth to the child miraculously - keeping her physical virginity intact during the birth.
The film, he suggests, in portraying a natural, painful birth of Christ, thus denies the truth of the virginal and miraculous birth of Christ, which, he notes, the Fathers of the Church compared to light passing through glass without breaking it. Fr. Geiger quoted the fourth century St. Augustine on the matter saying. "That same power which brought the body of the young man through closed doors, brought the body of the infant forth from the inviolate womb of the mother."
Fr. Geiger contrasts The Nativity Story with The Passion of the Christ, noting that with the latter, Catholics and Protestants could agree to support it. He suggests, however, that the latter is "a virtual coup against Catholic Mariology".
The characterization of Mary further debases her as Fr. Geiger relates in his review. "Mary in The Nativity lacks depth and stature, and becomes the subject of a treatment on teenage psychology."
Beyond the non-miraculous birth, the biggest let-down for Catholics comes from Director Catherine Hardwicke's own words. Hardwicke explains her rationale in an interview: "We wanted her [Mary] to feel accessible to a young teenager, so she wouldn't seem so far away from their life that it had no meaning for them. I wanted them to see Mary as a girl, as a teenager at first, not perfectly pious from the very first moment. So you see Mary going through stuff with her parents where they say, 'You're going to marry this guy, and these are the rules you have to follow.' Her father is telling her that she's not to have sex with Joseph for a year-and Joseph is standing right there."
Comments Fr. Geiger, "it is rather disconcerting to see Our Blessed Mother portrayed with 'attitude;' asserting herself in a rather anachronistic rebellion against an arranged marriage, choosing her words carefully with her parents, and posing meaningful silences toward those who do not understand her."
Fr. Geiger adds that the film also contains "an overly graphic scene of St. Elizabeth giving birth," which is "just not suitable, in my opinion, for young children to view."
Despite its flaws Fr. Geiger, after viewing the film, also has some good things to say about it. "Today, one must commend any sincere attempt to put Christ back into Christmas, and this film is certainly one of them," he says. "The Nativity Story in no way compares to the masterpiece which is The Passion of the Christ, but it is at least sincere, untainted by cynicism, and a worthy effort by Hollywood to end the prejudice against Christianity in the public square."
And, in addition to a good portrait of St. Joseph, the film offers "at least one cinematic and spiritual triumph" in portraying the Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth. "Although the Magnificat is relegated to a kind of epilogue at the movie's end, the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is otherwise faithful to the scriptures and quite poignant. In a separate scene, the two women experience the concurrent movement of their children in utero and share deeply in each other's joy. I can't think of another piece of celluloid that illustrates the dignity of the unborn child better than this."
See Fr. Geiger's full review here:
http://airmaria.com/
You've said so beautifully what I was thinking. The pains of motherhood have been the most spiritual experiences of my life.
My daughter Mary was born smiling:)The doctor hated to slap her bottom but he did so she would cry .I saw her smile it was nice.
Good point. Even though those movies weren't the most Biblically or ethnically accurate, I still enjoyed them. I actually appreciate the movie Ben Hur more after reading the book. The director took a lot of effort to get things as close as they did for the time.
Jesus did experience pain in His life. That was part of the point of His coming to earth in human form -- to experience what we all experience, including pain. Obviously, the most important point was so that He would pay the price for the salvation of humankind.
Mary was a human being. Blessed, to be sure, but a fallible human being nonetheless. The Bible does not tell us that Mary was infallible, and certainly does not tell us that she did not have a normal relationship with her husband.
The Bible is the only infallible Word of God.
That was a rather late development over all. It was because of the view that birth pains are a punishment for Eve eating the apple (Genesis), and that if Mary didn't have original sin, then she shouldn't have birth pains. Many ECF's didn't talk about Mary's birth pains or lack there of, because it wasn't much of an issue at the time. It wasn't until the Arian and some Gnostic heresies in the 300 and 400's that you begin to see speculation about Mary.
There are still churches that don't get caught up in religion. Just look for a church that teaches straight from the Bible. The pastor and associate pastor of my church routinely tell us that no religion will get you into heaven, including our own religion. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ that will do it. They also encourage us to check their own Bible teaching against our own Bibles rather than just sit there and listen and take their word that what they're teaching is Biblical.
I was like you. For years I avoided church for the same reason you stated. We're all human, after all, and there is no perfect church, but if you can find one that teaches strictly from the Bible, you're in a good place. :-)
On this point, prods and papists can, and should, agree.
The constitution of the old Soviet Union guaranteed religious liberty, too. The church is wise enough to tolerate many things it does not teach. Unfortunately, this can go too far, and lead to synchretism. The Jesuit missionaries to China were recalled when word got back that they were embracing confucianism faster than the mandarins were embracing Christianity!
Folk catholicism does, indeed, regard, celebrate, and treat the BVM as a friendlier deity than the Trinity. The cult of the BVM, in practice (if not in official dogma) is a para-Christian religion with an alternate deity, alternate revelation, alternate plan of salvation, alternate mysticism, etc. Just like Mormonism, which also provides point-for-point substitutes to Christianity.
Well, maybe they just wanted an actress who would be moving and would do a good job portraying Mary. Maybe they didn't think she had to genetically fit the part.
honestly...
Christ is the Divine One, not Mary or her supposedly inviolate womb.
A man who had a retarded son marveled how, on Christmas morning, the lad could be just as happy playing with the pretty, colorful empty box as his older, normal, brother was when playing with the intended gift the box had briefly contained.
I wonder, though, how the Father feels when He sees so many millions slighting His ultimate Gift, because of fascination with the gift wrapping. As a cradle catholic, I am intimately familiar with the psychological dynamics of folk marian devotion. A very sweet and seductive para-Christian cult.
Descriptions of Blessed Mary describe her as fair looking with reddish hair.
Why then go through the trouble of making the architecture, dresses and everything else reflect authentically the culture, reality and physical appearance of first century AD Israel?
They seem to go through extraordinary pains to make everything look authentic except the focus of the movie — the Mother of God. Why am I not surprised?!
And how did they determine what is a "good job portraying Mary is, save for pre-conceieved notions that are not biblical? Which begs the question, why make everything else biblically accurate?
The problem is that people believe what they see in the movies. The movies leave an impression that lasts as visual memory. You start adding artistic license to historical events and you are re-writing and distorting history. I could understand it if the movie is presented as a "docu-drama,", a re-enactment, but not if it is portrayed as a historical film.
Again, if the best actress was needed for the job, and raxce and ethnicity had no part in the selection or authenticity of the movie, why not pick a Chinese or a blond-blue-eyed one? I am sure there is plenty of good talent out there besides the Maori actress.
You wrote: I ask my "Reformed" Christian brethren to be respectful of Catholic theology with their comments on this thread. Thanks in advance for your cooperation
That would indicate that you wanted this to be some form of "caucus."
I say this because I would take issue with the concerns expressed about Mary's virginity.
Hey mod: Should this be designated a "catholic caucus because of that intial comment?"
After you get saved you will be worthy...And you can go right to the source...Right to the head of the class...Straight on up to the King...
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus knows me personally...We spend a lot of time together...
I saw this movie, and my review was that it is a "nice" movie. It was obviously non-Catholic, having downplayed the words of the Magnificat and having used some bible passages as dialog (which sounded strange)...but overall I thought the movie was "nice"
I should also note that the depiction of Joseph was phenomenal, and (correct me if I am wrong) St. Joseph gets even less play in Protestant tradition that Our Lady.
In fact I kind of got the impression that he was the hero of the movie.
Just an opinion though, I'm sure Stephen Greydanus will have a review in short order.
It does...Jesus had blood brothers and sisters...Mary had a whole herd of kids after Jesus...Biblically, that is...
Dear xzins,
I don't think this should be a protected thread. I don't think it's warranted at all.
Although it would be nice if the Rules of the Religion Forum required a minimum of decorum when discussing others' religious beliefs in open threads, I don't think it would be appropriate to designate this a caucus thread, even though that would be the only way to keep the discussion from getting ugly.
The fact is that the original pieces that start this thread contrast Catholic and Protestant culture, spirituality, belief, etc. By definition, this should be an open thread.
It's a pity that what that means is that any idiot poster can enter herein and spew with reasonable impunity venom and blasphemy at things Catholic.
Oh well.
sitetest
Dear Antoninus,
Do you think this movie is appropriate for pre-teen young men? My wife is thinking of taking our guys, ages 9 and 12, to see it. They know the very basics about the birds and the bees, how babies are born, etc.
sitetest
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