Miracle at Moreaux (1985) Runtime: 1 hour
Director: Paul Shapiro
Cast: Loretta Swit, Robert Joy, Geneviève Appleton Milan Cheylov Simon Craig Thomas Hellman
The plot of this movie follows Claire Bishop’s novel Twenty and Ten based on some real events in 1943 in Nazi occupied France. It celebrates the quiet heroism of a French nun and a group of school children who helped to rescue three Jewish children during the holocaust. The events take place during Christmas, coinciding with the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Amidst the Nazi regime and the efforts of underground resistors helping Jews escape to Spain, an underground guide leads Anna, Sabine, and Daniel, three Jewish children, towards the border. The Nazis have blocked the roads to catch escapees, forcing them to hide in the forest near a convent. When their rescuer attempts to steal food from the convent, he is caught by Dominique, a senior inmate. In an attempt to distract Dominique, the rescuer runs into the forest and is shot by Major Braun, a Nazi officer, in front of Sister Gabrielle and the children. Sister Gabrielle manages to save Anna, pretending she is one of her truant wards, and brings her into the convent. Later, the other two children are also hidden there while preparations are made for the Christmas pageant. Despite the sympathy of the other children, Sister Gabrielle must confront Dominique’s prejudice against Jews. Major Braun becomes suspicious and investigates the convent after discovering forged Spanish passports belonging to the three children. However, Sister Gabrielle successfully conceals the children and uses the distraction of the Christmas pageant to deceive Major Braun. With the support of Sergeant Schlimmer, an old man sympathetic to their cause, and the children’s assistance, the Jewish children manage to escape right under the noses of the searching soldiers. In a heartwarming moment, the Christian children begin their Christmas celebrations by lighting candles, while the Jewish children announce the start of Hanukkah. This unity and mutual affection create a new dimension to Christmas, symbolizing hope and triumph. In the end, the three children escape across the border, aided by everyone involved. Sergeant Schlimmer reports to Major Braun that there are no Jewish children hiding in the convent, and the movie concludes with the enduring symbol of the still-burning Hanukkah lamp, representing hope and triumph in the face of adversity.
Dead Man Rising (2016) Runtime: 97 minutes
Director: Thomas L. Callaway
Cast: Sean Anthony Moran, Travis Johns, Corbin Bernsen, Daniel Roebuck, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Shawna Waldron, Mike Capozzi.
The movie is set inside the death row of an American prison where Daniel, a condemned criminal struggles with his desperate spiritual condition and moves gradually towards faith. The story unfolds through dialogues between Daniel and his fellow inmate, Fish, an unbeliever who challenges Daniel’s growing faith. Daniel, unknowingly responsible for the death of 11 people during a failed robbery attempt in a senior citizen’s home, finds himself at a dead end. Upon entering his cell, he tries to connect with a fellow prisoner adorned with Christian tattoos, assuming he is a devout believer. However, he soon discovers that Fish is a renegade Christian turned atheist.
As Daniel awaits his impending execution, he learns from his lawyer about the excruciatingly painful death he will face through a lethal chemical cocktail. Driven by curiosity, he requests access to a computer and the internet to investigate this rumored new form of human experimentation. Although granted limited access, Daniel engages in animated discussions with Fish, exploring themes of the human condition, the existence of God, the afterlife, the reality of Christ, undeserved human suffering, the historical accuracy of the Gospels, scientific theories of the universe’s origins, and the emergence of life on Earth.
Fish challenges Daniel’s newfound faith, prompting him to question his beliefs. Meanwhile, Daniel’s guilt-ridden past haunts him through vivid dreams. The conversations between Daniel and Fish continue, delving deeper into their perspectives on Christ. The film also explores the ongoing conflict between science and faith. As Daniel’s lawyer delivers the devastating news of his failed appeal, Daniel must confront the inevitability of his fate. In the midst of his despair, he gradually realizes that Fish had been assuming the role of an atheist, all along, to guide Daniel towards finding God on his own terms. The final sequences are poignant, exploring themes of grace and redemption.
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