Magdalena: Released from Shame (2007) -82 minutes.
Director: Charlie Jordan Brookins
Cast: Rebecca Ritz, Shira Lane, Jewell Cartales, Brian Deacon, Fran Gable, Paulah May, Gigi Orsillo.
Brookins’ movie takes his Magdalena story direct from the Gospel narrative and stays close to it. The movie is almost like a Gospel according to Mary Magdalene and specially emphasizes women’s perspectives. It helps us realize the significance of those women whom Jesus encountered at various points during his public ministry and became part of the band of disciples who accompanied Jesus throughout his life, though only a few are directly mentioned in the Gospels. The movie narrative opens years after the Gospel events. Mary Magdalene recalls the story of her experience with Jesus to the children of her friend Rivka and some other women. She sets the story against the background of the Biblical narratives starting with the creation story and passing through the story of Abraham and Israel leading up to Jesus, presenting him as the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise of a Messiah. Magdalene’s life with Jesus begins when he encounters her in the street and heals her of madness. He addresses her as “daughter of Abraham”. Mary witnesses the several healings and miracles such as the cure offered to the woman with hemorrhage, resurrection of the dead and the miraculous feeding of the multitude. Above all she highlights how he honoured and cherished the “shamed and unimportant” women whom he encountered everywhere. Magdalene points out to her listeners how Jesus restored their dignity and worth as part of the Kingdom of God that he preached. His encounter with the Samaritan woman is radical because he broke down an ancient wall of separation. When the woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus, one of the bystanders asks: where is the man who according to the law is deserving of the same punishment? The conspiracy and betrayal, the trials and crucifixion and the ecstatic encounter with the resurrected Lord are recalled. The little listeners ask Mary: “why did they have to kill him?”
Christmas Grace. (2013) 84 minutes
Director: Keith Perna
Cast: Ryan-Iver Klann, Tim Kaiser, Rebekah Cook, Ann Filippis, Christy Storey, Rich Swingle, Daniel Knudsen, Rachel Sparks.
The movie tells the story of two competing Toy stores in an American town and their fortunes providing a strong message of Christian love and charity that is embodied in the spirit of Christmas. Gary and his wife maintain a customer friendly toy store with modest profits and excellent customer relationships when suddenly one Christmas season a large rival toy store is opened by the ruthless Mr. Tollman who tells Gary that he will destroy his competitor. Gary is troubled though he does not retaliate. Mr. Tollman bribes two of Gary’s delivery boys to hide away a whole batch of new popular toys and not deliver it to Gary and forge fake delivery notes, thus making Gary lose a lot of customers. Mr. Tollman’s underhand dealings succeed for the time being when Gary is forced to shut down. Gary comforts his pregnant wife telling her that God will find a way for them to keep their life going. Tollman’s hostility is not only reserved for Gary but also to anyone who would try to be friendly with him. When one Christmas season a group of youngsters try to wish him merry Christmas singing an old carol in front of his office Tollman shouts them off angrily. The true reason for his shocking behaviour is later revealed to us, exposing the trauma of his orphan childhood which is recalled in two places. Gary is blessed with a boy child. He invents a new game toy that is patented and put on the market through his reopened store financed by the manufacturers. His store begins to prosper, while Tollman’s store goes bankrupt and the partners fall apart. Though Gary comes to know of his competitor’s earlier underhand dealing that destroyed his business, he considers his own blessings and chooses to forgive. How Gary helps the struggling Tollman in secret during the Christmas season that follows forms the climax of the movie. A must watch indeed as we move into the joyful season of Christmas.
To subscribe to the magazine, click Subscribe
