Thought I'd share a movie I have reviewed:
Movie: City Lights (1931; dir: Charlie Chaplain)
The movie "City Lights" is regarded by some as Charlie Chaplain's greatest silent film. It centres around a tramp (Chaplain) who falls in love with a blind woman (Virginia Cherrill). By accident the blind woman assumes the tramp is a "distinguished gentleman". Chaplain accepts this assumed role because of his longing to be longed for. Through a rich acquaintance Chaplain's comes across a large sum of money. Rather than use it for himself he uses the entire amount to heal his blind friend and is subsequently taken to prison. The movie culminates in the tramp and the healed blind woman meeting. In the closing scene the blind woman comes to know of the how much Chaplain gave up to heal her.
Chaplain's film adapts the biblical theme of love and sacrifice to his film. Explicit biblical references can be seen in the cinematography during the boxing scene (burial in the tomb) and more implicitly of theme of blindness. More impressively Chaplain is able to capture thought and emotion without words to speak deeply about the inner workings of the characters. We get a deep understanding of who these people are through his use of comedy. In "City Lights" Chaplain is able to portray humanity in its simplest but most profound form. In this sense I regard Chaplain as a philosopher.
Some things I think Chaplain communicates through the movie is:
* The longing of every human being for love and acceptance as seen through Chaplain (the tramp) and the blind woman.
* Real love will sacrfice everything: seen in the tramp willingness to go to prison to heal his friend.
* The response to real love is true thankfulness and love: seen in the moving final scene as the woman looks into Chaplain's eyes feeling overwhelming love combined with utter unworthiness.
In this way Chaplain communicates some truths which the bible centres on in the work of Jesus. Christ's willingness to give up the glories of heaven and become not only human (tramp like) but then also to descend to hell (prison) to reconcile us with God (healing) speaks of the depth of his sacrificial love for mankind. I think we'll be in disbelief and astoundment at the true cost of his sacrifice when we finally meet him - the Lion who became a Lamb for us.
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1 comment:
You mentioned Regent focuses on Christianity expressed through the culture. Was this Chaplain film part of your studies? or more coincidental?
Do you think Chaplain intentionally communicated these themes? Or do you think it's more that humanity deeply feels these things since we're made in the image of God and artists express these things without necessarily understanding Christ?
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