AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
May 2006 – True-life Christian struggles depicted in Billy Graham re-releases
See what it’s like to endure life’s struggles while experiencing testimonies of true salvation with the recent addition of two films to the Billy Graham Presents home entertainment collection. Released on DVD April 11, The Climb and The Hiding Place show viewers what it’s like to be faithful to Christ in the heat of battle.
The Hiding Place
Based on a true story drawn from the memories and writings of Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place has now been restored from its 1975 Hollywood premiere. It follows the inspirational efforts of a family committed to helping save persecuted Jews from the Nazi invasion of Holland during World War II.
Centered on two middle-aged sisters, Corrie and Betsie, the film depicts the brutality and horror of the war-torn world of the 1940s when the ten Boom family is imprisoned and later sent to concentration camps for harboring ousted Jews. The conditions seem hopeless, but the ten Boom sisters cling to Christ and hold tight to their belief that “no pit is so deep that He [Christ] is not deeper.”
The Hiding Place is not necessarily a family film, although it may be a good teaching tool for parents to use with mature pre-teens and teens. The film contains mild profanity, use of alcohol and cigarettes, and elements of violence and gore as a means of depicting the horrid conditions of concentrations camps.
Rated PG; available on DVD
Rebecca Grace
The Climb
Breathtaking snow-covered mountains, nail-biting dare-devil climbers and one man’s faith journey make for a gripping drama in The Climb. It may well be the best World Wide Pictures release to date.
Two unlikely partners find themselves pitted against nature in an attempt to climb Mt. Chickanagua in southern Chile’s Andes Mountains. Michael is a serious-minded young Christian man, widowed when his wife died in an auto accident. Derrick is carefree, sometimes careless, arrogant and independent.
When a businessman offers to sponsor an expedition for the two of them, it’s a dream come true, except for one little detail. Neither man is particularly fond of the other. Yet both see it as an opportunity too good to resist. From the outset, Derrick’s ego succumbs to the instant celebrity while Michael focuses on training.
Their ascent up Chickanagua is demanding and dangerous, and their close calls create a bond that leads both to share the deepest parts of their lives. The resolution is an emotional but realistic look at how one’s life can influence others for Christ. Yet the only sermon preached is that of Michael’s life and witness. The movie is a triumph of adventure, suspense, conflict and faith.
Not rated; available on DVD
Randall Murphree
Little Manhattan
If Little Manhattan (Fox Home Entertainment) had been made in 1965 with its main characters in their mid-teens, likely the movie would have been seen as a tender comedy about first love.
But in today’s highly sexualized culture, a film about two New York City pre-teens experiencing the first pangs of romance may be too worldly for Christian families and suggest too much about relationships later in adolescence.
At age 10, Jake finds himself at the awkward convergence of boyhood and adolescence. When he is paired in karate class with classmate Rosemary Telesco, age 11, Jake is caught off guard by his attraction to a girl. Soon puppy love is full-blown.
A thread in the story is Jake’s struggle to muster the boldness to kiss Rosemary – a theme that parents might deem understandable at age 16, but find highly questionable at 10.
In addition, the absence of any spiritual component in the story line will not ring true for many families. The movie also contains a half-dozen profanities and a distasteful scene – played for laughs – that includes projectile vomiting. In another scene, a couple passionately kisses.
On the up side, there are plenty of humorously awkward moments, and family relationships are, in the end, portrayed as positive.
Rated PG; available on DVD
Rusty Benson
The Thief Lord
The Thief Lord from Fox Home Entertainment is a captivating adventure and mystery story aimed at children ages 9-14. Set against the backdrop of Venice, Italy, the film spins a tale of two orphan children rescued from life on the streets by the young burglar, Scipio. Scipio steals from the rich to support a small band of indigents, or so the viewer is led to believe.
Although the story steers clear of moralizing, positive themes include loyalty, friendship and courage. Areas that might cause parents concern include: at least three profanities; disrespect for police; an instance in which a child is slapped; a secondary theme of magic; and at some points, a slightly blurry line between good and evil.
Not rated; available on DVD
Rusty Benson
