Current Issues Bible Study s2

Ethics Examined

TABLE OF CONTENTS Click on the study title you’d like to see:

Leader’s Guide: HOW TO START A CHURCH FILM FESTIVAL

Study 1: THE LADYKILLERS

Study 2: GODSEND

Study 3: HOTEL RWANDA g Study 4: THE VILLAGE

Study 5: CHANGING LANES Study 6: Crash MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE How to Start a Film Festival in Your Church Page 1

How to Start a Film Festival in Your Church Movies can be a fun and effective way to initiate spiritual discussions. By JoHannah Reardon I was a child of the ’60s. Although I wasn’t raised in the church, I had friends who had to sneak out of the house to watch The Sound of Music in the theater. When I was 16, the prohibition of sex, language, and violence in Hollywood was lifted. I remember how I sat in shock watching The Graduate, crumbling my G-rated world forever.

Times have changed. It has taken an entire generation of Christians to accept and even embrace the modern film industry. Most of us have realized that for better or worse, the film industry is here to stay. Out of this attitude, a new idea is emerging: Instead of spending all our time railing against something we cannot change, why don’t we use film to communicate the truth of God’s Word to a hurting world? A great way to do this is to hold a film festival at your church. To make this kind of festival a success, we consulted with Bryan Zug of Harambee Church in South Seattle, Washington, and David Taylor of Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas, who have successfully hosted film festivals at their churches. They offer the following insights on how churches can use film wisely and effectively.

Talk to Your Church Leadership Although Christians today are generally far more receptive to movies than they were 50 years ago, questions remain about the validity of film in the church, and rightly so. Individuals view the matter quite differently, from those who watch only G-rated films to those who watch almost anything. The last thing you want to do is create a battle over this in your church. The place to start is with your church leadership. If you are considering having a film festival in your church, you will want to make sure it fits in with the culture and goals of your congregation. If you are an inner-city church full of 20-somethings, you will probably have an easier time promoting this idea than if you are a rural church full of mostly retired people. Carefully think through why a film festival would be a good idea and back it up with Scripture. The church leadership will need to see that you want to use film to engage the church in a spiritual discussion and not just as a gimmick to be edgy and contemporary. If your church leadership is not behind the idea of a film festival, consider having a private party in your home instead, where you invite a few friends and neighbors.

Decide on a Name and Your Goals Come up with both a name and goals for your festival. Brainstorm names that would attract people to your event. Depending on your target audience, “Faith and Film Weekend” or “Movies and Theology Night” may work well. Also, think through clear-cut goals for the event. Do you want to challenge a person’s view of movies or just provide entertainment? Do you want it to be family friendly or an adult discussion only? Do you want to provide a gathering point for church members or use it as an outreach? Are you 1 going to show the entire film or just clips of the film to discuss?

© 2008 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE How to Start a Film Festival in Your Church Page 2

Find Your Stance on Ratings Establish some ground rules about how to deal with movie ratings. At Taylor’s church, they have no age limits on who can attend. Instead, they let parents determine what they think is best for their children to watch. Also, when he is showing a movie clip in a talk or discussion, he always makes sure it is a PG-rated clip no matter what the rating of the movie. Zug’s church, on the other hand, relies heavily on the movie’s rating. For example, if a film is R-rated, they discourage those under 17 from attending by making it clear who the movie is for.

Prepare the Discussion Leaders It’s vital to have good discussion leaders. Those guiding the conversation need to know how to keep it going rather than killing it. Any good discussion is dependent upon the questions; however, you can destroy a great question by providing an answer before people have had a chance to talk. If a leader pushes his or her ideas without allowing others to express their points of view, the leader will not win them to his or her side but will simply discourage them from speaking what they think. In fact, encourage leaders to avoid giving their opinion until the end of the discussion. The leader should be willing to let God’s Word and Spirit be the ultimate teacher. Leaders should refrain from giving pat, simplistic answers but instead encourage people to further study God’s Word for the truth. God is full of mystery, and we should not be too anxious to make everything fit into our theological paradigm. As leaders, we need to allow God’s Word to challenge our presuppositions too. Make sure to keep the discussion on track. Allow discussion while making sure it stays on the subject. If it wanders, gently bring it back. Finally, communicate love, not judgment. Group members will not want to answer questions honestly if they are ridiculed or shot down for their answers. In fact, they may not even come back. Look for ways to show you care about the person and not just a right answer.

Work Out the Details Do you want to show the movie in the sanctuary or in the educational wing? Do you want everyone sitting at tables or theater style? Will you provide refreshments? How will you publicize the event? Are you going to provide childcare? If you are going to use it as an outreach, do you want to provide follow-up? How much time will you allow for the discussion? Will it be a one-night event, an entire weekend, or a regular occurrence? You need permission to show movies, even short clips, in your church. The licensing system works a lot like the CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) license many churches purchase to print or project song lyrics. CCLI has partnered with Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) to offer a service especially for churches. Church Video Licensing International (CVLI) offers an “umbrella license” for an annual fee. You can show authorized titles from MPLC’s long list of big studios (including Sony, Warner Brothers, and Disney) and from a growing list of Christian movie producers. This license covers film showing as long as no admission fee is charged and the title is not advertised to the general public. See below for contact information.

1 Finally, you will need to choose which movies to show. CHRISTIANBIBLESTUDIES.COM offers discussion guides on many popular movies and connects those movies to biblical

© 2008 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE How to Start a Film Festival in Your Church Page 3

issues like relationships, families, redemption, and overcoming difficulties. The purpose of these guides is to help people “think Christianly” about what they see in the movies, the most powerful media of our time. By hosting a film festival and guiding meaningful discussions about the spiritual themes portrayed in movies, your church can broaden understanding and faith while combating the cultural messages that contradict Scripture.

JoHannah Reardon is an associate editor for CHRISTIANBIBLESTUDIES.COM.

Movie licensing information. Licensing fees are based on church size and can be granted over the phone. CVLI (Church Video Licensing International) Phone: 1.888.771.2854 Web site: http://www.cvli.org MPLC (Motion Picture Licensing Corporation) 5455 Centinela Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90066-6970. Phone: 310.822.8855 or 1.800.462.8855 Web site: http://www.mplc.com E-mail: [email protected]

Movie Discussion Guides: http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/movies/

© 2008 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om The Ladykillers A dark comedy about character, justice, and the good life.

The Ladykillers is a dark comedy set in sleepy Saucier, Mississippi, deep in the Bible Belt, where the forces of good and evil meet. The villainous professor, Goldthwait Dorr, masterminds a riverboat casino heist, and the pious widow, Marva Munson, unwittingly plays host and foil to the con artist and his dimwitted henchmen.

This study guide will help you discuss the deeper themes of the movie. What does this film say about how God intervenes in our lives? How does it portray the church and Christian worship? What impact do our habits of thought and lifestyle have on our character? How do we find true joy? And how is justice delivered in this world?

Based on: The Ladykillers (Buena Vista Pictures, 2004), directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on the 1955 Ealing Studios production of The Ladykillers, screenplay by William Rose, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen, rated R for language including sexual references. MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE The Ladykillers Page 2

Movie Summary

The eloquently verbose con artist, “professor” Goldthwait Higginson Dorr III (Tom Hanks), has a plan. The Bandit Queen, a riverboat casino moored just off Marva Munson’s (Irma P. Hall) home, has $1.6 million dollars he intends to steal. By running a local want ad, Dorr assembles a motley troop of criminals: Gawain MacSam (Marlon Wayans), an aggressive street hood with a dirty mouth and lustful impulse-control problems; Garth Pancake (J. K. Simmons), a demolitions man with bowel-control issues; Lump Hudson (Ryan Hurst), a muscle-bound heavy with a mental impairment; and the General (Tzi Ma), a former tunnel-digging Vietnamese general of few words and a lethal smoking habit. Dorr’s plan is set after he rents a room from Munson, and he and his bumbling bandits invade Munson’s root cellar. With battered musical instruments as props, Dorr tells Munson they are practicing rococo classical music—actually supplied by a boom box. With a few setbacks, such as an inopportune explosion, a severed finger, and a last-minute bribe for a corrupt casino boss, the gang finally digs the tunnel and loots the casino. But that’s when the master plan collapses, and the God-fearing Marva Munson becomes the problem no plan could have predicted. Now they have to kill her. Amazingly, Munson escapes each attempt at her life and ends up with the money, which she promptly tries to return and ends up giving away. The movie demonstrates—with more than mere piles of cash—that crime does not pay and virtue is its own reward.

—For more coverage of The Ladykillers, visit http://christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/ladykillers.html

Rated R: This film is inappropriate for younger viewers due to frequent profanity, crass comments about male and female anatomy, toilet humor, and a few violent outbursts that can be both cartoonish and bloody.

Discussing the Scenes

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 1. Church and Worship 2. Divine Intervention 3. Christianity in the Movies 4. The Making of Character 5. Joy and the Good Life 6. Justice

1. Church and Worship (Ephesians 2:22; Philippians 4:4–7; Hebrews 10:25) Throughout the movie we see Marva Munson at dynamic church services. The congregants are so visibly worshiping that the scenes are emotionally stirring and uplifting.

1 Read Ephesians 2:22, Philippians 4:4–7, and Hebrews 10:25.

[Q] Why should we rejoice during church worship?

[Q] What is it like to be in a moving worship service? If you’ve experienced one, how did you feel touched or stirred? Talk about the effect it had on you.

[Q] How did you feel during these scenes in the film? Were you moved in any way while watching them?

[Q] How well did the scenes fit in the context of an absurd plot? At the end of the movie, Lump says, “I’ve been doing some thinking, maybe we should be going to church…”

[Q] What might have happened if any of the criminals had gone to church with Marva?

2. Divine Intervention (Exodus 14:23–30; Acts 5:1–10; Acts 28:1–6) As Dorr’s plans crumble and the gang decides to murder Marva Munson, each attempt fails at the last second. Each thug is killed, either at the hands of another criminal or by an outlandish accident. MacSam dies while fighting over his own gun. Pancake flees with the money, but he’s caught and killed by the General when his irritable bowel slows him down. The General is startled by a Jesus cuckoo clock, swallows his cigarette, and tumbles down the stairs to his death. Lump tries to intervene but is killed by his own stupidity and professor Dorr’s handgun. And a crumbling gargoyle fells Dorr, who plunges to his death on a barge destined for Garbage Island—a metaphor for hell, and the destination of each of the dimwitted fools, even down to the severed digit.

[Q] What does the film imply by protecting Marva’s life and killing the criminals?

[Q] Who or what is the implied ultimate agent behind these things? Is God at work, or are these criminals merely the victims of coincidence?

[Q] If it’s God, what does that say about him? Read Exodus 14:23–30, Acts 5:1–10, and Acts 28:1–6.

[Q] Have you ever had a close brush with evil only to realize later that God protected you? Why do you believe it was God rather than a coincidence?

[Q] If God can protect us from harm, why does he allow bad things to happen at all? Are we being punished if something bad happens to us? When may that be happening and when not?

3. Christianity in the Movies (Isaiah 54:17; John 17:15; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Titus 2:7–8) Marva Munson is a devout Southern woman deeply concerned about the immoral state of culture. She complains about “thumpity” stereos and the lyrics of “hippity-hop” music. She mourns the state of culture “2,000 years after Jesus, 30 years after Martin, in the age of Montel.” She warns the sheriff to help someone, arguing, “You don’t want to be tried and found wantin’.” Then, foreshadowing Dorr’s entrance, she warns: “There’s a stranger in our midst, come to deceive us.” After this introduction, we might expect to see Munson portrayed as a busybody religious nut. But she faithfully keeps the memory of her devout husband alive, 20 years after his death. She regularly contributes a “widow’s mite” to a Bible school (Bob Jones University), and she is faithful in her attendance at church. She cherishes the wisdom of God found in Scripture. She resists greed, and she is generous in her hospitality, even while laying down the law about ungodly behavior in her home.

[Q] Many contemporary films treat Christians and their beliefs contemptuously—at best with condescension, and at worst with outright ridicule. What are some reasons why this film gives a positive portrayal of a woman’s devout faith?

[Q] Why is Munson’s integrity and piety important for the frustration of evil plans later in the movie?

[Q] Why do you think the filmmakers spent so much screen time with Munson at church? Wouldn’t it have been enough to show her quoting a few verses now and then?

[Q] How have other movies portrayed Christianity? What impact do you think those portrayals have had on our culture?

4. The Making of Character (Romans 1:18–32; Romans 6:19; 1 Corinthians 10:23–24; Galatians 6:7–8; 1 Peter 1:13) Professor Dorr presents himself as a man of purely intellectual pursuits. He has mastered Latin and Greek, reads classical tomes, and uses impenetrably dense language. He is obsessed with an author of dark and macabre works: “I just love, love, love Edgar Allen Poe.”

[Q] What does Dorr’s obsession with Poe’s writing say about him? How does it affect his thinking?

[Q] What kinds of books, movies, television shows, or music contribute to sin in our lives?

[Q] Is there any such thing as a harmless obsession? Why or why not?

1 [Q] What impact does our thought life have on our behavior? What do you think Dorr spent time thinking about? What did Munson spend time thinking about?

[Q] What about the other characters in the film—Gawain MacSam, Garth Pancake, the General, and Lump? How do their actions reveal their hearts? What kinds of obsessions or thoughts motivate each of them? In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Tom Hanks said, “[Dorr] says he's on sabbatical from that college in Mississippi, but I think he's been on sabbatical for 17 years. You just know he got fired for something, probably something a bit scandalous.”

[Q] How is Dorr’s true character first revealed to us? How is Munson’s character revealed?

[Q] What happens when people try to hide sin in their heart? Why is it almost inevitable that the truth comes out? Near the end of the film, Dorr tries to bribe Munson’s silence with a substantial portion of the loot. She sways but finally resists. Later, when she has full control of the money, she tries to return it but is told she can have it all—which she then decides to give away.

[Q] How was Munson able to resist the temptation of all that money?

[Q] What would you do if you suddenly found yourself with $1.6 million? What might it do to your life? Your character? Your relationship with people?

[Q] How would you define integrity? How did Munson show integrity? Read two or three of these passages: Romans 1:18–32, Romans 6:19, 1 Corinthians 10:23– 24, Galatians 6:7–8, 1 Peter 1:13.

[Q] What do these passages say about the relation between our thoughts and our actions?

[Q] What are some ways we can control our thoughts and improve our character?

5. Joy and the Good Life (Job 20:4–5;Philippians 4:4–9, 11–12) During the film’s church scenes, we see faces everywhere suffused with delight. Feet are tapping, hands are clapping, arms are raised in worship, and radiant joy lights the screen. In contrast, whether in the root cellar of iniquity or at the local Waffle Hut, Dorr and his dimwitted cronies are the picture of anger, greed, and enmity.

[Q] What is the difference between pleasure and joy? What about happiness and joy?

[Q] What are some characteristics of joyful Christians? What sets them apart from people without joy?

[Q] Why are the Christians the only joyful people in this film? Besides the foot-tapping

1 music, what makes the difference?

[Q] When, in your life, have you been the most joyful? How can you carry that joy into other areas of your life?

[Q] When has joy been absent from your life? What caused your lack of joy? How did you find your way back?

[Q] What is it like to be around people who don’t have joy in their lives?

[Q] How can we live a life of joy even while suffering? How can we find joy even in a culture that is, bit by bit, sailing for Garbage Island?

6. Justice (Proverbs 29:26; Ecclesiastes 3:16–17; Isaiah 1:17; Romans 12:18–20; 2 Peter 2:9) The preacher at Munson’s church refers to the time when Moses caught the Israelites “red- handed, worshiping the golden calf, worshiping the false god, because Israel was in decline.” So, the preacher says, God “smote those sinners in his wrath.” Read Proverbs 29:26, Ecclesiastes 3:16–17, Isaiah 1:17, Romans 12:18–20, and 2 Peter 2:9.

[Q] How would you define justice?

[Q] Describe some times when you believe justice was delivered.

[Q] God says he is the one to deliver vengeance. What about justice? What are some ways we work for justice? When should we actively work for justice, and when should we wait for God’s justice? Describe a time you were caught in that quandary.

[Q] What do you think about how justice was measured out in this movie? Was it complete? Was it truly just? If you had the chance to rewrite this film, what would your version of justice look like? When justifying his thievery to Munson, Dorr convinces her that the casino is a den of iniquity, that the money is dirty, and the casino doesn’t deserve the money. He tells her the casino is insured so the money will never be missed. In an interview with Hollywood.com, Marlon Wayans, who played Gawain MacSam, was asked, “If you could rob any establishment, what would it be?” He answered, “Something corrupt, like a government. Or I'd probably rob somebody who robbed somebody. Like a drug dealer.”

[Q] What kind of morality is at work behind these statements? Can you think of other examples that exhibit that kind of morality?

[Q] How would you respond if somebody told you a sin was justifiable as long as the cost was small or the victim was wicked?

As the Credits Roll

[Q] What role did music play in this film? When the film opened, Marva Munson was complaining about “hippity-hop” music, and when professor Dorr persuaded her to let his gang practice music in her cellar, he said the music was “gospel-inspired.” What role do you think music plays in culture? Is it possible for music to be sinful in and of itself?

[Q] Lump’s character is mentally impaired, maybe due to a number of concussions. His naïveté and obliviousness lead to his exploitation. He responded to an ad designed to attract greedy lowlifes, but he’s not mean-spirited like the rest of the team. What is the message behind this character’s involvement in the plot? Can ignorance ever protect you from the consequences of your decisions?

[Q] What other themes did you see in The Ladykillers?

[Q] What messages did this movie convey that troubled you or that conflicted with your faith?

[Q] What messages did this movie convey that encouraged your faith or helped you see truth in a new way?

—Study by Rich Tatum, Internet operations manager for Christianity Today International.

© 2004 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om Godsend If you could bring someone back from the dead through human cloning—would you?

Godsend is a “what if” thriller about the legal, ethical, and moral implications of human engineering. What would happen if human cloning became available? Could the option of resurrecting a lost loved one become an actual temptation? How do these ethical issues take on additional meaning for Christians who believe God created human beings in his image? Why are bio-future thrillers like Godsend, Gattica (which explores a world of designer children), and Alien Resurrection (in which alien and human DNA are mixed to form a hybrid being) so compelling?

Based on: Godsend (Lions Gate Films, 2004), directed by Nick Hamm, written by Mark Bomback, rated PG-13 MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE Godsend Page 2

Movie Summary

Paul and Jessie Duncan are devastated when their only son, Adam, dies in a freak accident. Dr. Richard Wells, a medical researcher working clandestinely on the edge of new technology, offers to clone Adam. The clone will still be Adam, he insists. The first eight years will be much like the original Adam’s first eight years. After that, the nurturing process will continue as it would have. Given only 72 hours to decide before Adam’s cells lose viability, Paul and Jessie accept the offer. Dr. Wells insists they move to a new town and live, at his expense, in a restored seaside house. They must cut all ties with family and friends to keep from being exposed and prosecuted. (Warning: If you haven’t yet seen the movie, you may not want to read the following three paragraphs.) Unbeknownst to the Duncans, Dr. Wells has his own motivations for cloning Adam. His son, Zachary, had died, and Dr. Wells combines Zachary’s cells with those of Adam. At age eight, the new Adam begins to develop “night terrors” and shifts between his Adam personality and a frightening alter ego—a psychopathic boy who killed his mother and died in a fire he set himself. Paul and Jessie are terrified as their son shifts from Adam to Zachary. As the night terrors continue, Adam/Zachary becomes more dangerous. He murders a schoolmate and is stopped just before he kills his mother. The family moves again. Adam undergoes rigorous therapy and seems to improve. But no therapist has ever dealt with a boy who was cloned from two originals: Adam, and Dr. Wells’s psychopathic son Zachary.

—For more coverage of Godsend, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/godsend.html

Rated PG-13 This film is rated PG-13 for violence including frightening images, a scene of sexuality, and some thematic material.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 1. Defying Death 2. Faith in Science 3. Medical Advancement 4. Dealing with the Devil 5. What’s the Source of Life? 6. Deception

1. Defying Death (1 Samuel 28:1–20; Luke 16:19–31) Godsend contemplates what may happen in the future. It may seem far-fetched, but already we can clone animals. Genetic Savings and Clone, a bioengineering firm in California, has offered to clone a favorite pet for $50,000. The Alcor Life Extension Association and The World Transhumanist Association advocate cryogenics: the freezing of deceased bodies (or heads) in the hope that they can be cloned at a further date. Several notable people have allegedly been frozen until science makes cloning possible.

[Q] What motivations do people have for wanting human cloning?

[Q] Discuss the different motivations of Paul, Jessie, and Dr. Wells for cloning Adam.

[Q] Does this second chance at life affect the grieving process? Long term, is this a good thing?

[Q] Read Luke 16:19–31. What does this passage tell us about what happens after we die? What does it say about interaction between the living and the dead?

[Q] Read 1 Samuel 28:1–20. Why did Saul disobey God and ask the witch to summon Samuel from the dead? What should he have done instead?

[Q] Do you know anyone who has gone to a witch or psychic to deal with fear and grief?

2. Faith in Science (Genesis 3:1–24; Genesis 11:1–8) Through science, we have benefited from nuclear power, fossil energy, chemicals, and deep-sea fishing. But those same wonders of science have also created nuclear weapons, poisoned the environment, and depleted fish stocks to the point of extinction.

[Q] Cloning promises great benefits to humankind. What are the possible dangers of cloning?

[Q] What kept Paul and Jessie from dealing with the loss of their son in a healthy way?

[Q] What did Dr. Wells promise them in the name of science? Why did he fail to warn them about the dangers of cloning their son?

[Q] Read Genesis 3:1–24. Why were Adam and Eve not content with what God had allowed them in the garden?

[Q] Is the argument against cloning similar to the church’s condemnation of Galileo when he asserted that the world revolves around the sun?

[Q] Can you think of other examples where the church was too quick to condemn scientific exploration? When has it failed to be critical enough of scientific experimentation?

3. Medical Advancement (Numbers 5:1–4; Mark 5:1–20; John 9:1–41) In Jesus’ day lepers were considered unclean. Now they are treated with antibiotics. Some descriptions of the demon possessed sound like current descriptions of people suffering from seizures and schizophrenia. As medicine advances, we re-examine our attitudes toward illness and healing. However, bioethics has been criticized as a field of situational ethics, divorced from spiritual and moral values. David B. Fletcher of The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity writes, “Bioethics has obliged medical professionals to share these intriguing and critical discussions with lawyers, social scientists, theologians, and philosophers.”

[Q] Read Mark 5:1–20 and John 9:1–41. Jesus healed people to show the glory of God. Do modern medical procedures also show the glory of God? When do they and when don’t they?

[Q] If Dr. Wells had not deceived Paul and Jessie, would the procedure have been beneficial?

[Q] Can cloning, as a way to heal grief, be considered a legitimate medical treatment that also shows the glory of God?

[Q] How do we distinguish between life-saving science and the science of vanity and presumptive arrogance?

[Q] What is the role of lay people in the development of bioethics, given that we lack the technical expertise of scientists and surgeons?

4. Dealing with the Devil (Genesis 3:1–24; Matthew 4:1–11) In the story of Faust, a doctor seeks riches and fame. The Devil agrees to give them in return for Faust’s soul. This theme has been reworked many times in film and literature. It is often used as a metaphor for when we knowingly ignore the consequences of our actions. For instance, recreational drugs offer ecstasy and deliver wreckage. Promiscuous sex promises freedom and pleasure yet often delivers pain and suffering. Credit cards and quick loans offer financial help but can also cause ruin. We often make such “deals with the Devil” and are disappointed with the outcomes.

1 [Q] Were Paul and Jessie deliberately ignoring moral concerns or were they just naive?

[Q] How do we know when we are making a pact with evil?

[Q] Other than the examples above, can you think of pacts with evil that we willingly or naively enter?

[Q] Can you think of an example of a medical procedure that causes harm rather than healing? What are the promised rewards of participating in such procedures? What are some potential evil consequences?

[Q] Read Matthew 4:1–11. What would have happened if Jesus had agreed to one of Satan’s offers?

5. What’s the Source of Life? (Genesis 2:4–25; Psalm 139:13–16)

[Q] Many Christians argue that cloning is outside God’s desired plan for creation. How would cloning be different from other medical procedures, such as in-vitro fertilization, that create life? Would it be different to create a cloned child than to pursue fertility treatments?

[Q] Read Genesis 2:4–25. How does this passage explain the creation of life? What does it imply about cloning?

[Q] What evidence do we see that Paul or Jessie doubted a cloned Adam would be the same as the original?

[Q] Read Psalm 139:13–16. If cloning becomes possible, will it occur as part of God’s plan or in spite of it?

6. Deception (Genesis 37:12–36; Jeremiah 9:4–6) Clients of a sperm bank were shocked to find that they had been cruelly deceived. After filling out a wish list for such traits as height, coloring, intelligence, and musical and artistic ability, they were supposedly impregnated with sperm from donors whose characteristics matched their own desires. They later discovered that an employee had been substituting his own sperm and had fathered dozens of children.

[Q] Paul and Jessie question Dr. Well’s competence. Why don’t they question his honesty? What does this imply about rationality in grief?

[Q] How might Paul and Jessie have kept from being deceived?

Read Genesis 37:12–36. Why does Joseph trust his brothers when they are obviously 1 [Q] so jealous of him?

[Q] What examples can you give of deception by trusted professionals or leaders?

[Q] How should we react to the warning in Jeremiah 9:4–6? How can we keep from becoming cynical or jaded by this fallen world?

As the Credits Roll

[Q] What other ethical or moral themes did you see in Godsend?

[Q] Did this movie encourage you to examine your faith, or did it undermine it?

[Q] Have you followed the news reports and public debate about human cloning? What can you do to honor your convictions on this issue?

—Study by Stefan Ulstein, movie reviewer for ChristianityTodayMovies.com.

© 2004 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om DISCUSSION GUIDE Hotel Rwanda This dramatic film tells the real-life story of one man’s struggle to survive and save others during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Hotel Rwanda recounts the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, during the climax of that nation’s 1994 civil war and large-scale massacre. When chaos descends on his family and hotel, Rusesabagina tries in vain to secure some sense of normalcy to his life. But the gravity of the situation prods him to seek untapped reservoirs of courage and risk his life for others.

This study guide will help you discuss the deep themes in Hotel Rwanda. What does the movie convey about the dignity and worth of each human life? What does this film say about the nature of evil? How do the characters summon courage in the midst of crisis?

Based on: Hotel Rwanda (United Artists, 2004), directed by Terry George, screenplay by Terry George and Keir Pearson, rated PG-13 for violence and brief, strong language MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE Hotel Rwanda Page 2

Movie Summary

Neighbor turned against neighbor in 1994 when the radical Rwandan Hutu majority called for the massacre of Tutsi countrymen, who formerly held power under imperialist Belgium. In less than three months, nearly 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus lost their lives during the infectious madness. This movie portrays the true story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), manager of the posh Hotel des Mille Collines, who tries to use his military and Western connections to save not only his Tutsi wife and family, but more than 1,000 refugees who have fled for shelter behind the hotel gates. As Hutu military and militiamen approach, demanding the lives of Tutsis within, Rusesabagina uses his guile to buy time while he pleads with influential foreigners to pay attention and intervene to save them. As the horrid violence overwhelms Rusesabagina, he must decide what can be expended and who is worth risking his life to protect.

—For more coverage of Hotel Rwanda, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/hotelrwanda.html

Rated PG-13 For a movie that powerfully depicts evil, Hotel Rwanda manages to remain viewable for the squeamish. Still, death constantly threatens, and signs of carnage occasionally confront the characters. The movie’s roughest moment is also its most graphic, when Rusesabagina unexpectedly encounters thousands of corpses piled up like firewood. Offensive language punctuates the movie’s most graphic and tense moments, and is thus sprinkled in the dialogue about 10 times. The movie also includes brief violence toward women who are held as sex slaves by the Hutu militia.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 1. Dignity of Human Life 2. Nature of Evil 3. Courage in Crisis

1. Dignity of Human Life (Genesis 1:26–27; Mark 12:31; Galatians 5:14; Galatians 3:28–29; Matthew 5:38–42) We often wonder how something so terrible as the Rwandan genocide could have happened. And why did the West do nothing to stop the carnage? The answers reveal the need to see each other as God sees us.

Scene to Watch: Colonel Oliver explains to Paul Rusesabagina that Westerners consider Africans to be subhuman (elapsed time: 00:49:20–00:50:45) Colonel Oliver shatters Rusesabagina’s hope that Western forces will intervene and stop the massacre. Oliver says Westerners will not risk their soldiers’ blood to save African lives. He also explains that Rusesabagina should own the hotel, since he is the most intelligent man there, but he cannot since he is black.

[Q] What do you think of Oliver’s assessment? Do Westerners regard Africans and other nonwhites as inferior?

[Q] What is your impression of Rusesabagina’s reaction? Why was he so surprised when the West declined to intervene?

[Q] What is the seed of racism? How is it perpetuated from generation to generation?

[Q] What does the Bible say about racism? Leader’s note: Jesus levels the differences between races by giving them all access to God. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Genesis tells us that all men are created in God’s image and are thus equal before the Creator (Genesis 1:26–27). Jesus says the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself is one of the two greatest commandments (Mark 12:31).

[Q] How do you carry out these biblical commandments in tense situations?

[Q] If you’ve never been in a comparable crisis, how can you prepare yourself to love your neighbors—even when you don’t know them and they are different from you? Leader’s note: Though Rusesabagina’s Hutu tribe held the upper hand at the time, he did not observe a difference between Hutus and Tutsis. As a Hutu, he married a Tutsi. He never considered the possibility that he’d hit a glass ceiling in his Western work environment. Themes of equality run throughout his life.

[Q] Read Mark 12:31. How did Rusesabagina “love his neighbor as himself”?

[Q] Read Matthew 5:38–42. What does it mean to “turn the other cheek”?

[Q] Is it possible to withhold retribution when your family’s life is at stake, as in Rusesabagina’s case? Leader’s note: The significance of Rusesabagina’s refusal to return violence with violence may be underestimated. Though he did not have many resources at his

1 disposal to directly combat the militia, he protected the innocents more effectively by using other means to fight evil. Also, Colonel Oliver would not allow the U.N.

officers to shoot at the militia outside the hotel gate, because he knew it would only incite a violent and overwhelming response. Scene to Watch: Hutu radio refers to Tutsis as “cockroaches” (elapsed time: 00:22:22–00:22:58) Hutu radio and military personnel label Tutsis as “cockroaches” that they must squash. Dehumanizing Tutsis as dirty, hearty pests makes it possible for the killers to justify murder.

[Q] What characteristics do you associate with cockroaches? What messages did the Hutu killers convey with this label? Leader’s note: Associating humans with pests is a classic tool of genocide. Nazis did the same against Jews during the Second World War.

[Q] We are constantly tempted to elevate differences between others and ourselves. What does Galatians 3:28–29 say about labeling others? Scene to Watch: White clergy are separated from blacks (elapsed time: 00:54:25–00:56:54) As white foreigners are evacuated from the Hotel des Mille Collines, a group of French priests, nuns, and orphans rush toward the U.N. vans for safety. However, the U.N. guards would not take the blacks. Amid tears and screams, the black Catholic contingent must stay at the hotel to await the looming slaughter.

[Q] At the orphanage, the whites and blacks obviously lived together in harmony. What struck you about their separation?

[Q] What does this scene say about the Christian community and equality of man? Leader’s note: Before the genocide, Rwanda was sometimes referred to as the “most Christian country in Africa.” The vast majority of the country had been baptized Catholic or Anglican. A sad fact of the genocide is that many clergymen participated in the killing. At the very least, few Christians did anything substantial to prevent the violence.

[Q] If you had been a white Christian being rushed toward the vans, how could you justify not getting on board?

2. Nature of Evil (Genesis 3:1–7; Romans 5:12–14; Exodus 32:19–24) Rusesabagina often tries to talk his way out of problems. In the face of such horrendous evil, however, his words prove inadequate. Scene to Watch: Rusesabagina’s van drives over masses of Tutsi corpses 1 (elapsed time: 01:14:22–01:16:33)

The Hutu militia leader suggests that Rusesabagina and his driver take a particular road back to the hotel following a meeting for Rusesabagina to get supplies. When the jolted van appears to have gone off the road, the pair argues with each other in confusion. Rusesabagina gets out to investigate and stumbles upon dozens and dozens of Tutsi bodies.

[Q] How did seeing these corpses impact you?

[Q] How did this face-to-face encounter with evil change Rusesabagina? Read Genesis 3:1–7.

[Q] What is the origin of evil in our world?

[Q] Why did Adam and Eve pass from righteousness to evil?

[Q] How did their action impact subsequent generations? Leader’s note: Romans 5:12–14 says: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.”

[Q] How would you define evil?

[Q] How does distancing and insulating ourselves from evil stunt our ability to combat it? Scene to Watch: After driving over the bodies, a hotel worker asks Rusesabagina about evil (elapsed time: 01:18:15–01:19:08) Rusesabagina answers that people are cruel due to hatred and insanity.

[Q] Is Rusesabagina’s answer to the question adequate?

[Q] How would you have answered that question? Read Exodus 32:19–24.

[Q] Why did the Israelites make the golden calf?

[Q] This passage in Exodus says man is “prone to evil.” What is the likelihood that the genocide in Rwanda will be repeated elsewhere? Leader’s note: In the 20th century alone, the world suffered numerous genocides (Armenia, Germany, Cambodia, Bosnia, etc.). Some of these societies were quite advanced, not unlike our own.

1 [Q] Why didn’t God stop the Jews from building the golden calf? Why didn’t he stop the killers in Rwanda?

Leader’s note: Satan first tempted Adam and Eve and introduced evil to the world. But the Earth is God’s footstool, and he controls all activity. He does not cause evil, but in his mysterious sovereignty, he allows Satan to tempt man. Never forget: God has Satan on a leash due to the victory over death in Jesus Christ.

[Q] Could something so terrible as genocide happen in America? Why or why not?

3. Origin of Courage (Esther 4:13–14, 1 Samuel 17) Rusesabagina displayed extraordinary courage in the face of tremendous opposition. Scene to Watch: Rusesabagina thinks the West will have to intervene (elapsed time: 00:42:05–00:44:16) Rusesabagina has just seen the footage of carnage that will make the nightly news back in the West. He is stunned that the photographer thinks Westerners will react passively and get on with life. So long as he expects the West to intervene and protect his family and hotel staff, Rusesabagina does not fully consider the wrenching decisions he must make. Eventually he learns there will be no help. If he will act, it will be alone.

[Q] Would you describe Rusesabagina as courageous?

[Q] Is courage a characteristic only few people possess? Can anyone muster courage when called upon? Read Esther 4:13–14.

[Q] What similarities do you observe between Esther and Rusesabagina? Leader’s note: Answers could include that each held positions of unique influence, became singled out by their enemies, and only reluctantly acted.

[Q] What finally convinced Esther to act? What convinced Rusesabagina? Scene to Watch: Rusesabagina stays behind to help, leaving his family (elapsed time: 01:26:42–01:28:51) The Rusesabagina family has been granted Belgian visas to flee the tragedy. Yet as his family gets into the U.N. truck, Rusesabagina stays behind with the helpless and says to his screaming family, “I cannot leave these people to die.”

[Q] Rusesabagina would not have made this same choice earlier. Why did he change his mind now?

[Q] Were you surprised that Rusesabagina decided to stay behind? Was his conversion realistic?

Scene to Watch: With one phone call to Belgium, Rusesabagina secures the hotel guests’ immediate safety (elapsed time: 00:57:54–01:03:18) Rusesabagina desperately tries to pacify Hutu troops, who had just woken him up with a gun to the head. He knows the military cannot be overcome with force, so he pleads with the Belgian owners to save the hotel. Unarmed and helpless, he meets the officer at the hotel door.

[Q] The Belgian hotel owner placed one phone call and stopped the bloodletting. Contrast Rusesabagina’s courage to most Western leaders’ cowardice. Read 1 Samuel 17.

[Q] What did David have to protect himself? How about Rusesabagina?

[Q] When going into “battle,” where do you draw strength and courage?

As the Credits Roll

[Q] How does the West’s lack of attention to and interference in the Rwanda genocide impact the way you view current world events?

[Q] The difference between Hutu and Tutsi became deadly, despite the artificial colonial origins of the designation. What artificial barriers do we erect between others and ourselves?

[Q] What common traits do the movie’s heroes (Rusesabagina, Red Cross worker, U.N. Colonel Oliver) share?

[Q] How was your faith encouraged by Rusesabagina’s triumph over evil? Is your faith challenged by knowing our world is still prone to such incredible outbursts of evil? Why or why not?

—Study by Collin Hansen, assistant editor for CHRISTIANITY TODAY.

© 2005 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om DISCUSSION GUIDE The Village A community separates itself from the rest of the world to avoid evil, but something goes awry.

The small community of Covington Woods provides the setting for The Village. It is an idyllic, sequestered society that exists in response to the corruption of the nearby towns. Covington Woods is led by a group of nurturing elders who guard a disturbing secret that holds the community together.

This study guide will help you discuss the themes in The Village, an especially poignant film for the church community. What is the role of authority, and is pragmatism justified? How do people of principle interact with a corrupt world? Can we regain innocence in a sinful world? And, can love conquer all?

Based on: The Village (Touchstone, 2004), written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, rated PG-13 MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE The Village Page 2

Movie Summary

The Village, set in what appears to be the late 1800s, is the story of the small, Amish-like community of Covington Woods. Life is simple and innocent for these inhabitants, who have chosen to separate themselves from the surrounding, dangerous towns. But it’s a nervous peace, as the woods encircling the village are home to “Those We Don’t Speak Of,” frightening creatures who have made a covenant with the village elders. The villagers don’t enter the woods, and the creatures don’t enter the village. But, when tragedy strikes in the community, some villagers desire to seek help from the nearby towns. This causes a breach of the borders, and the creatures enter the village, terrorizing the community. We eventually learn that “Those We Don’t Speak Of” are not real, but a fiction created by the elders to keep members of this utopian community from leaving the village and being corrupted by the surrounding, present-day society. The founding elder (William Hurt) finally reveals to his blind daughter (Bryce Dallas Howard) the truth about the creatures and Covington Woods when her fiancé is a victim of violence. She must then overcome the fear she’s been indoctrinated with to seek help from the surrounding towns to save the man she loves.

—For more coverage of The Village, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/village.html

Rated PG-13 The Village appears to be a horror film, but the fright comes more from what the audience doesn’t see. The PG-13 rating comes from: the threat of the creatures and their appearance; a somewhat bloody stabbing scene; and various skinned animals left as warnings to the villagers. There are no sexual situations or offensive language in this thriller.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 1. Authority and Pragmatism 2. Community in a Corrupt World 3. The Nature of Innocence 4. The Power of Love

1. Authority & Pragmatism (Mark 10:42–45; 1 Peter 5:1–6) From student council to the federal government, the mantle of leadership is one that is much desired and much abused. Despite grand visions and eloquent documents, leaders are still flawed people. What is the nature of the call to leadership? And, how do leaders exercise authority without resorting to abuse?

Scene to Watch: Edward Walker reveals to his blind daughter, Ivy, that “Those We Don’t Speak Of” are a farce perpetrated by the elders. (elapsed time: 1:10:11–1:12:54)

[Q] Tell about a time you felt controlled or abused by authority. Or, name some examples of people in history who have abused their positions of authority.

[Q] How did you feel when you found out that “Those We Don’t Speak Of” were a tool of the elders to control the community?

[Q] If you were Ivy and found out the truth about the creatures and the deception by the elders, how would you have reacted?

[Q] Why do you think Ivy feels sad for her father and the elders?

[Q] The elders, out of misguided love, use fear as a control tool. Does the end justify the means here? Things are pretty good in the village; what’s the harm? Is there any place for control in leadership? Explain. What is the role of leaders? Read Mark 10:42–45.

[Q] Where and with whom do you exercise leadership?

[Q] In what ways does Jesus turn the traditional concepts of leadership and authority upside down? What would Jesus say about controlling, abusive, or pragmatic leadership? Leader’s note: Jesus introduced the concept of servant leadership; not controlling power, but loving service and sacrifice as the ultimate model of leadership. Jesus didn’t just offer this concept as an ideal, but he demonstrated it in the Incarnation, in washing his disciples’ feet, and in his death in our place. Jesus often derided the Pharisees and their hypocritical abuse of power and deception: Matthew 15:1–9, 23:25–26; John 8:1–11.

[Q] How have you seen others follow Jesus’ teaching on servant-leadership? Read 1 Peter 5:1–6.

[Q] What qualities does this passage instruct leaders to develop?

[Q] How can humility and servanthood co-exist with authority?

[Q] Leadership that lords over others or controls them misses the example of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus. What leadership controls do you need to loosen this week? How would Jesus, in your position, lead those under your care?

2. Community in a Corrupt World (Matthew 5:13–16; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; John 1:14) Read the news, observe consumer culture, peruse the media, and it would be hard to blame anyone for tramping off into the woods and becoming a hermit. How should people of faith interact with a corrupt world? It’s the age-old question of separation or engagement: do we disconnect from the world or somehow try to change it? Scene to Watch: The founding elder, Edward Walker (William Hurt), and his wife open the box in their home that contains secrets from their past. Each elder in the community has one. (elapsed time 1:30:16–1:32:23) In this scene, Edward Walker, the founding elder of Covington Woods, and his wife, Tabitha, open their box of secrets from the past. We see that this is not the late 1800s at all, but modern day, and that this secluded village was started by a group of people in a grief- therapy group to retreat from a dangerous world.

[Q] Do you ever envy the Amish or similar communities? Why or why not? How long could you live that way?

[Q] What did you think or feel when you realized this story did not take place in the 1800s, but in the modern day?

[Q] Is Walker a villain for suggesting the idea of a sequestered community? Why or why not? Could it have worked without the deception?

[Q] Covington Woods was built on a lie perpetrated by a fear of the world. Is it possible to isolate ourselves from all evil and corruption? Why or why not?

[Q] What is the purpose of communal living? Of biblical community? Read Matthew 5:13–16. Jesus describes his disciples as salt and light, and as a city on a hill to shine before all. Now read 2 Corinthians 6:14–18, where the Apostle Paul quotes the Old Testament, saying, “come out from them and be separate.”

[Q] How do Christians walk the line between separation from the world and engaging the world to change it?

[Q] Name someone who has engaged the world without being corrupted by it.

[Q] Is the church primarily a harbor from the storm, or a boat launch to engage the world? Read John 1:14. Jesus, or “The Word,” is described here as putting on human skin and living among us.

[Q] How is Jesus’ Incarnation (coming in the flesh) a model for Christians in the world? 1 How do we love our neighbors in sacrificial ways, as Jesus did?

Leader’s note: Jesus, in the Incarnation, invites us to move into the worlds of others to sacrificially meet their needs. This could start by simply walking across the street to help a neighbor, or it may require us to move out of an affluent neighborhood and into one that is in need, so the burdens of others become our burdens.

[Q] Where do you and your church need to be more of a “city on a hill” and be light to the world? Where do you and your church need to “come out…and be separate” from the world?

3. The Nature of Innocence (Matthew 23:25–28; Mark 7:14–23; Psalm 32:1–7; Hebrews 10:19–22)

“I wish I was a kid again” may be a sentiment that crosses the minds of adults. One reason could be a longing for innocence. There are many guilt-ridden spouses, parents, CEOs, clergy, and siblings in our society. What is the price for a good night’s sleep with a clean conscience? Many try to obtain innocence by managing things on the outside: getting more stuff, status, or kudos to numb the inner nag of guilt; thinking, “At least I’m not as bad as…”; saying, “If only I could simplify my life”; trying to legislate morality; or cutting themselves off from an evil society. But innocence can come only from the inside, from accepting Christ’s love and forgiveness. Scene to Watch: The elders confront Edward Walker after he decides to send his daughter to the towns for medicine. (elapsed time: 1:15:17–1:17:17)

[Q] In this clip, Edward Walker says, “In the end, that’s what we have protected here: innocence.” Define innocence from his perspective. What’s your definition of innocence?

[Q] Can there be innocence in Covington Woods when the foundation of the community is a deception? Why or why not?

[Q] Who is the most innocent person you know? What’s it like being around that person?

[Q] What, in your opinion, robs people of innocence?

[Q] Is it possible to regain innocence? Why or why not? Read Matthew 23:25–28 and Mark 7:14–23.

[Q] Where does Jesus say evil can be found?

[Q] What would Jesus’ message be to the people of Covington Woods regarding innocence?

1 [Q] What is the bigger issue in our quest for innocence: the evil out in the world or the evil in us? Explain.

Read Psalm 32:1–7 and Hebrews 10:19–22.

[Q] What do these passages say is the means to innocence, or the release from guilt? Leader’s note: These passages say we can be cleansed from a guilty conscience through confession of our sin to God and, ultimately, through Christ’s shedding of blood on our behalf (“…having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience…” Hebrews 10:22).

[Q] Tell about a time you experienced relief, or a renewed innocence, after confession. Or tell about how Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf renewed your innocence.

[Q] What would the church look like if there were more of a balance between renouncing the world and confession of sin?

[Q] How could you shift more of your energies in the fight for innocence from outside to inside?

4. The Power of Love (1 John 4:13–21) Consider the concept of love in our culture. If you looked to television, films, music, and marriage statistics, you would probably conclude that love is sentimental and fickle rather than powerful and sacrificial. How can we satisfy our longing for real love when we see so few examples around us? Can love really change the world? Scene to Watch: The elders of Covington Woods wonder if Edward Walker’s decision to let his blind daughter go to the towns for medicine is a mistake. (elapsed time: 1:16:46–1:18:33)

[Q] Edward Walker said, “The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.” From your perspective, is this true? Explain.

[Q] Ivy makes her journey of love alone, with the burden of having been indoctrinated by fear. In what ways have you seen or experienced fear waging war against love?

[Q] What evidence is there that we live in a fear-motivated world? A fear-motivated church culture?

[Q] Besides the example of Jesus, in what ways has love changed the course of history? Read 1 John 4:13–21.

[Q] If, because of Christ, we can be confident in the presence of God and in his love, what else is there to fear? What are you afraid of right now that needs to be driven out by perfect love?

What freedom is there in knowing that God’s love overcomes anything that we may 1 [Q] fear? How have you experienced perfect love driving out fear?

[Q] Verse 19 says that we are “freed up” to love others because of God’s love for us. Who do you need to love in a sacrificial and powerful way? How will you do that today or tomorrow?

As the Credits Roll

[Q] The Village is marketed as a horror film. Is it really? Why are people drawn to horror films? Is there a theological or spiritual reason?

[Q] Covington Woods appears to be a faith community of some sort. Where is God in this culture?

[Q] How is the community of Covington Woods like the modern-day church?

[Q] Lucius can be seen as a Christ figure in this film. He is “pure of intention and unafraid,” willing to sacrifice himself to save others, and his “death” brings truth to light. At the end of the film, we don’t know if Lucius lives or dies. Does it matter? Does it matter if Jesus rose from the dead, or was his example enough? What would you say to someone who doesn’t believe in the physical resurrection of Christ?

—Study by Kyle White

© 2005 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE Changing Lanes After a car accident, two men’s lives become intertwined in escalating retaliation.

If only. If only we could take back that one moment in time—that one action—that one word. How different things would be. That single snowflake seemed harmless enough until it was the one that tipped the scales in favor of the avalanche. Changing Lanes is a film about if only. Two burdened men have their very different worlds turned upside down as a result of an everyday fender bender on the FDR in New York. The men, as a result, wreak havoc upon each other’s lives as they seek revenge. But at the bottom of their downward spiral they both realize their failures.

This study guide will help you discuss the themes of Changing Lanes. What are the consequences of acting out of retaliation rather than patience? How does our integrity, or lack thereof, reap consequences for us and those around us? How can confession lead us toward redemption?

Based on: Changing Lanes (Paramount, 2002), directed by Roger Michell, rated R. MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE Changing Lanes Page 2

Movie Summary

Changing Lanes begins with, well, changing lanes on New York’s FDR. Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), a Wall Street lawyer in his Mercedes, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), an insurance telemarketer in his Toyota, collide in a minor accident, delaying them in getting to their respective court appointments. From this mundane incident, Doyle loses out on defending himself in family court and the judge allows his sons and estranged wife to relocate across country. And Gavin accidentally leaves an important court document with Doyle in the confusion of the fender bender, jeopardizing his career. Doyle wants his “20 minutes” back, and Gavin wants his file back. These losses set them off on a widening road of retaliation. However, we see that the car accident isn’t really the cause of these men’s breakdowns, but the vehicle for them to finally go over the edge. Doyle struggles with a life of alcoholism, anger, and chaos that his AA sponsor (William Hurt) tries to help stem. Gavin, a once idealistic young lawyer, is losing his integrity through deception and adultery in a corrupt law firm run by his father-in-law (Sydney Pollack). Neither man is who he wants to be. Inevitably, the men’s retaliation spirals down to the point of violence, and at this point they finally realize the depths to which they have fallen, not only in their quest for revenge but in their respective lives. Both men realize their only hope is in confession. And confession may require more of them than ever before.

—For more coverage of Changing Lanes, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/changinglanes.html

Rated R Changing Lanes gets its R rating for language. Besides a liberal use of obscenities, there are several times when characters use God and Christ as profanity. Also in the film are some tense moments and violent images of a beating and a car accident.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 1. Retaliation Versus Patience 2. Integrity and Moral Consequences 3. Confession and Redemption

1. Retaliation Versus Patience (Matthew 5:38–48; Romans 5:3–4; Galatians 5:22–26) It’s no newsflash that war and violence are widespread in our world. The images and sound bites come steadily from the media, but we can’t forget that war and violence are simply products of the human heart. Our hearts. War is a reflection of the anger, revenge, greed, and violence that we harbor inside. What is our response to retaliation? And, in what ways can we respond instead of retaliation?

Scenes to Watch: Doyle, while in jail, tries to justify his actions to his wife. (Elapsed time: 01:15:02–01:16:27) Doyle is confronted by his AA partner after he bails him out of jail. (Elapsed time: 01:19:57–01:20:45 and 01:21:36–01:22:50; Warning: there are obscenities in these scenes.)

[Q] Have you ever encountered road rage? Ever perpetrated it in any fashion? What happened?

[Q] What could the characters in this film have done—and when—to change the outcome of the day?

[Q] Doyle’s estranged wife says to him that the battle with Gavin is “just the kind of thing that always happens to you and never happens to me unless I’m in your field of gravity.” In what ways did retaliation affect Doyle’s life and those in his life? In what ways has revenge affected your life?

[Q] How would Doyle’s prayer (“God, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change…”) have helped the people in this story? How could it help in your life? Leader’s Note: The “Serenity Prayer” used by AA was written by pastor and theologian Reinhold Niehbur in 1943. The full prayer is: God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”

[Q] Doyle’s AA sponsor says, “Everything decent is held together by a covenant, an agreement ...” What does this mean? Is it true?

[Q] What does the AA sponsor mean when he says Doyle is addicted to disaster and that his drug of choice is chaos? Do you know people like this? What are they like?

[Q] How do people develop the strength of character to choose patience over retaliation? Read Matthew 5:38–48. Jesus talks about our typical responses to people and then calls us to a higher standard that can only make sense when we adopt God’s point of view.

[Q] “An eye for an eye…” was a law intended to be used by judges as a rule for fairness (Exodus 21:24–25). However, we often use it as justification for revenge on a personal level. What does Jesus expect from us, in place of revenge?

[Q] Do Jesus’ commands here imply weakness? Explain. How did Jesus live out his own commands?

[Q] How do we keep Jesus’ commands when they are so counter to our natural response? Leader’s Note: See Galatians 5:22–26 regarding the power and fruit that come 1 via the Holy Spirit.

Read Romans 5:3–4.

[Q] Why should we rejoice in our sufferings? How have your sufferings produced positive effects in your life?

[Q] How will you love your enemies this week? What do you think will be the response of your enemies? How do you think it will change you? 2. Integrity and Moral Consequences (Genesis 3:6–13, 16–24; Proverbs 13:6; Romans 5:12–19)

Scenes to Watch: Gavin and his father-in-law discuss moral standards. (Elapsed time: 01:20:45–01:21:36 and 01:22:51–01:24:16; Warning: there are obscenities in these scenes.)

[Q] Who do you know that operates with high integrity? What is that person like?

[Q] Gavin’s father-in-law says: “I can live with myself because, at the end of the day, I think I do more good than harm. What other standard have I got to judge by?” How would you respond to him?

[Q] The philanthropist mentioned in this scene had gotten his wealth through exploiting the needy. He then used his wealth to fund a foundation for underprivileged children. Is corporate community giving simply PR money? How much do you know about the practices of corporations that provide you with goods and services? Does it matter?

[Q] How many good deeds does it take to outweigh one bad deed?

[Q] Gavin says, regarding his moral dilemma, “I didn’t know what to do.” He is at a loss. What do the people that you know use as a guide for moral choices?

[Q] When faced with a moral dilemma, what process do you use to make a choice?

[Q] Tell about a time when someone else’s moral choice, good or bad, affected you.

[Q] Is there a moral standard for all? How do our choices, however small, affect those around us? Read Proverbs 13:6.

[Q] In your experience, is this proverb true? Why or why not?

[Q] How are people of integrity “guarded” by their righteousness?

[Q] How does wickedness (immoral choices) overthrow the sinner?

1 Read Genesis 3:6–13, 16–24.

[Q] How do moral choices ripple out and affect others?

[Q] “How can it be wrong if it feels so good?” is a statement we use to justify flirting with temptation. How do you answer that question?

[Q] What did Adam and Eve do after their disobedience?

[Q] List all the ways that the moral choices of Adam and Eve, our moral representatives, have affected humanity. Leader’s Note: Read Romans 5:12–19 to see the good that one man’s (Christ’s) obedience has brought to humanity.

[Q] Can you think of other examples from the Bible where people’s moral choices affected more than their own lives? How have you been affected by the moral choices of others in your circle of relationships?

[Q] Whom do you have the power to affect, for good or bad, in your moral choices?

[Q] What do you need to do before you can make right moral choices this week?

3. Confession and Redemption (Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9) A crime is committed. All is despair and darkness. But finally the criminal steps forward, and two simple words, I confess, open the doors for truth, healing, and rehabilitation to make their way in. Without confession the doors are closed to any kind of redemption. How much darkness could be avoided if our starting point was an attitude of contrition? How can we be people of confession? Scene to Watch: Doyle and Gavin finally meet at the end of the day. (Elapsed time: 01:24:30–01:29:47)

[Q] How hard is it for you to say, “I’m sorry”? When was the last time you had to?

[Q] Why does Doyle thank Gavin in the end?

[Q] What did Doyle learn about himself as a result of the day?

[Q] Gavin gives the analogy of the “pretty girl on the beach.” Have you ever had a “girl on the beach” moment? Describe it. How would your life have been different if you had chosen to “leave the beach with that girl” and leave your other life behind?

[Q] This scene is a confessional, reflective of Gavin’s visit to the confessional booth and of Doyle’s AA support group involvement. Gavin says, “I’m sorry about what I did,” and Doyle says, “Me, too.” What happens as a result of their confessions? What doors are

1 opened?

Leader’s Note: The doors are opened for redemption. Doyle gains a healthy view of himself and has the possibility of returning to his family. Gavin gains the courage to return to his roots of helping people through the law. Both have the opportunity to become the men they wanted to be.

[Q] How would this story have been different if it had started with “I’m sorry”?

[Q] How do you practice confession in your life? Read Proverbs 28:13.

[Q] Why should we confess and renounce sin?

[Q] How have you found this proverb to be true in your life or the life of someone you know? Read James 5:16.

[Q] What is the role of community in the act of confession?

[Q] What should our role and attitude be as others confess to us?

[Q] How do confession and prayer with others lead to healing? Leader’s Note: Remind your group of God’s heart and promise in 1 John 1:9 and his offer of forgiveness and purification.

[Q] How will you practice confession this week? And with whom?

As the Credits Roll

[Q] This film is like a “Where’s Waldo” of religious symbolism. Can you think of any of these symbols? Leader’s Note: The cathedral, the AA meeting in the church, the picture of Jesus in the closet, a busload of nuns, the confessional and the stained glass image of Jesus, the Good Friday setting, etc.

[Q] Why is the film so rife with these images? What’s the point? What significance is there in the fact that this story takes place all in one day, Good Friday?

[Q] Compare and contrast the lives of Gavin and Doyle (rich vs. poor; white vs. black, etc.). Are these two men more alike or more different?

[Q] On the “Features” portion of the DVD, click on “Extended Scenes.” Watch “Confessional.” What would be your response as a priest taking Gavin Banek’s confession?

Leader’s Note: Warning: there is an obscenity in this scene, and the Lord’s name is taken in vain.

[Q] How would you have reacted in the same situation presented in the film?

[Q] Was the car accident key to the film, or would Gavin and Doyle’s lives have gone the same direction anyway? Why or why not?

—Study by Kyle White, freelance writer and regular contributor to CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDIES.

© 2005 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE Changing Lanes After a car accident, two men’s lives become intertwined in escalating retaliation.

If only. If only we could take back that one moment in time—that one action—that one word. How different things would be. That single snowflake seemed harmless enough until it was the one that tipped the scales in favor of the avalanche. Changing Lanes is a film about if only. Two burdened men have their very different worlds turned upside down as a result of an everyday fender bender on the FDR in New York. The men, as a result, wreak havoc upon each other’s lives as they seek revenge. But at the bottom of their downward spiral they both realize their failures.

This study guide will help you discuss the themes of Changing Lanes. What are the consequences of acting out of retaliation rather than patience? How does our integrity, or lack thereof, reap consequences for us and those around us? How can confession lead us toward redemption?

Based on: Changing Lanes (Paramount, 2002), directed by Roger Michell, rated R. MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE Changing Lanes Page 2

Movie Summary

Changing Lanes begins with, well, changing lanes on New York’s FDR. Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), a Wall Street lawyer in his Mercedes, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), an insurance telemarketer in his Toyota, collide in a minor accident, delaying them in getting to their respective court appointments. From this mundane incident, Doyle loses out on defending himself in family court and the judge allows his sons and estranged wife to relocate across country. And Gavin accidentally leaves an important court document with Doyle in the confusion of the fender bender, jeopardizing his career. Doyle wants his “20 minutes” back, and Gavin wants his file back. These losses set them off on a widening road of retaliation. However, we see that the car accident isn’t really the cause of these men’s breakdowns, but the vehicle for them to finally go over the edge. Doyle struggles with a life of alcoholism, anger, and chaos that his AA sponsor (William Hurt) tries to help stem. Gavin, a once idealistic young lawyer, is losing his integrity through deception and adultery in a corrupt law firm run by his father-in-law (Sydney Pollack). Neither man is who he wants to be. Inevitably, the men’s retaliation spirals down to the point of violence, and at this point they finally realize the depths to which they have fallen, not only in their quest for revenge but in their respective lives. Both men realize their only hope is in confession. And confession may require more of them than ever before.

—For more coverage of Changing Lanes, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/changinglanes.html

Rated R Changing Lanes gets its R rating for language. Besides a liberal use of obscenities, there are several times when characters use God and Christ as profanity. Also in the film are some tense moments and violent images of a beating and a car accident.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 1. Retaliation Versus Patience 2. Integrity and Moral Consequences 3. Confession and Redemption

© 2005 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE Crash A drama depicting a community’s true-to-life struggle with racism, alienation, and rage.

Crash takes viewers into modern-day Los Angeles, dramatizing the intersections of several characters’ lives over three days. In doing so, it reminds us of how racism, anger, and the struggle to achieve security in life can taint our interactions with one another.

Use this discussion guide to explore the themes of this movie. What does the film say about heroes and villains and our capacity to be either or both? How does our desire to protect and be protected cause us to react to perceived threats? What are some ways to begin a conversation about racism, and how can we learn to use our power for justice?

Based on: Crash (Lions Gate Films, 2005), directed by Paul Haggis, rated R. MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – LEADER’S GUIDE Crash Page 2

Movie Summary

Over three days in modern-day Los Angeles, several characters’ lives overlap in ways that dramatize the interplay of race, culture, and class in American society. The film follows the intersecting stories of an African-American investigator and his Hispanic partner; an upper-class African-American couple insulted during an encounter with a seasoned, bitter cop and his young, idealistic partner; a Persian shopkeeper struggling to keep his family and business safe during tense, post 9-11 days; a Hispanic locksmith hoping to build a better life for his wife and daughter; a district attorney who’s not above using posturing and press conferences to win political points, and his angry, lonely wife; an Asian man who makes a living trafficking Asian immigrants; and two young carjackers—one with a sense of social consciousness, and one who’s just along for the ride. The 36-hour whirlwind begins and ends with a car accident: a collision, one character theorizes, emblematic of people’s need to touch one another, to interact. Still, like a car crash, few of these interactions are gentle. Most are couched in a tense environment of suspicion, self-preservation, misunderstanding, and alienation. Although many characters have shining moments when they transcend stock types, for many, life remains a struggle between internal and external tensions that are no less intense for their familiarity.

—For more coverage of Crash, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/crash.html This movie was also one of CHRISTIANITY TODAY MOVIES’ “10 Most Redeeming Films of 2005” http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/tenredeemingfilmsof20 05.html

Rated R Crash is a film for mature audiences due to its subject matter, depictions of violence, sexual content, and frequent use of the f-word and racial slurs. It’s likely that any scene will contain material that some audiences will find offensive.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss: 4. Heroic Villains 5. Seeking Protection 6. Thinking About Racism 7. Using Power Wisely

1. Heroic Villains (Jeremiah 17:9–10; 2 Samuel 11–12:15; Judges 16; Matthew 26:31–35, 69–75) In Matthew 12:35, Jesus pointed out that our words and actions flow from the goodness or

1 evil stored in our hearts. In the film, several of the characters perform a mix of heroic deeds and cowardly or evil ones. As you watch the film, discuss the ways we are often courageous or heroic, as well as villainous or cowardly.

Scene to Watch: Officer Ryan’s parting words (Elapsed time: 00:56:56–00:58:23) Officer Ryan tells his younger co-worker, “Wait till you’ve been on the job a few more years … You think you know who you are. You have no idea.”

[Q] How do Ryan’s words line up with Jeremiah 17:9–10?

[Q] How have you dealt with the temptation to let fear or jadedness overcome your efforts to serve others? Have these issues ever arisen as part of your efforts toward racial reconciliation? If comfortable, share with others and brainstorm possible ways to move forward. Scenes to Watch: Officer Ryan harasses Cameron and Christine (Elapsed time: 00:16:16–00:22:24. Warning: this disturbing scene includes sexual misconduct) Officer Ryan saves Christine (Elapsed time: 01:00:28–01:06:12) Officer Hanson diffuses one racially based conflict (Elapsed time: 01:15:26–01:19:20) During his criminal activity, Anthony saves smuggled immigrants but shows disdain for them (Elapsed time: 01:31:31–01:34:22; 01:45:14–01:46:59)

[Q] Talk about ways each of these characters is heroic: Officer Ryan, Officer Hanson, Anthony, Graham, Cameron, Ria, Farhad, Rick.

[Q] Talk about ways each proves to be cowardly or evil. Do they participate in evil in active or passive ways? What do you think motivates each character? Do these factors (active or passive evil, motivation) matter when you consider the effects of their deeds? Why or why not?

[Q] Read 2 Samuel 11–12:15, Judges 16, or Matthew 26:31–35, 69–75 and identify 1) a heroic moment in the main character’s life, and 2) a moment of weakness, evil, or cowardice.

[Q] How does knowing about each biblical character’s multifaceted personality cause you to think about your own life? In what ways have you demonstrated courage or cowardice?

[Q] Like the characters in the movie, how have you shown strength or weakness in dealing with difficult issues of race and class?

2. Seeking Protection (Psalm 3; 91; Proverbs 31:8) 1 The theme of protection emerges throughout Crash: Some characters seek personal safety, while others try to protect the things they have built, like their political stature or business.

Still others put themselves on the line to protect others. Explore the theme of protection through these questions. Scenes to Watch: Officer Ryan’s harassment of Cameron and Christine causes conflict (Elapsed time: 00:16:16–00:22:24. Warning: this disturbing scene includes sexual misconduct) (Elapsed time: 00:23:15–00:25:08)

[Q] How does Cameron’s inability to protect Christine from the police cause conflict between them? With whom do you identify in this conflict?

[Q] In your opinion, why do Cameron and Christine start to fling questions about each other’s blackness at one another?

[Q] Does wealth or prestige protect a person from more overt forms of racism? Why or why not? If so, how? Scene to Watch: Daniel gives his daughter Lara the invisible, impenetrable cloak (Elapsed time: 00:25:09–00:30:17)

[Q] How does Daniel’s tenderness with his daughter affect the way you view his character?

[Q] Daniel tells five-year-old Lara about the cloak as a way of protecting her from reality. What realities do you want to protect loved ones from?

[Q] What realities do you want to be protected from? Scene to Watch: Farhad almost kills Lara (Elapsed time: 01:20:19–01:23:11)

[Q] Farhad accidentally shoots Lara during a confrontation with her father, using the gun he bought to protect his shop from intruders. How did his self-protective impulse become something different? What happened externally and internally to bring about the change?

[Q] How would you describe what Farhad’s protective impulse became? Do you understand this change? Can you sympathize? Why or why not?

[Q] Ria is angry with her partner, Detective Graham, because he protects his emotions by remaining distant from others. What do you think he is protecting himself from?

[Q] Describe how or why he might have developed such defenses. How does this coping strategy lead to unexpected results?

[Q] Have you ever built up personal defenses to protect yourself? If comfortable, share

1 how. Talk about safe ways to overcome this tendency.

[Q] Have you ever built defenses to shield yourself from God’s work in your life? Talk to the group about such a time.

[Q] Each of the characters deals with physical or emotional protection in some way. Read Psalm 3, Psalm 91, and Proverbs 31:8. How do you balance depending on God for protection with other measures of protecting yourself or defending others in your care?

[Q] Many of the conflicts in the film are intensified because of the presence (or potential presence) of guns. What are your feelings about guns and self-defense? Explain them in light of Scripture and a biblical worldview.

3. Thinking about Racism (Acts 10:23–46; 6:1–7; Galatians 2:11–13)

[Q] As a group, share your personal definitions of words like racism and prejudice. Did everyone have the same definition? Why or why not?

[Q] What do you think motivates racism?

[Q] Are you comfortable discussing this topic? If so, were you always that way? If not, why not?

[Q] What are some examples of personal racism from the film? How about structural or systemic racism?

[Q] Choose a character from the film, and describe how he or she may have perpetrated and/or been victimized by racism. Is it possible to be in both situations?

[Q] Do you think any of the tensions between characters in the film could have been resolved peaceably? What might have made a difference? What distinguished peaceful resolutions from violent ones?

[Q] What is the cost of choosing peace? When is it appropriate to resolve racial tensions through forbearance, and when is it appropriate to stand defiant? Scene to Watch: Officer Hanson diffuses conflict (Elapsed time: 01:15:26–01:19:20)

[Q] How did Officer Hanson’s prior knowledge of Cameron affect the way he treated him?

[Q] How can getting to know someone from a different racial, ethnic, or class background affect the way you view such issues? Share a story about a time this took place in your life.

[Q] Officer Hanson put his reputation on the line when he intervened on Cameron’s behalf. How might you be able to take a risk on behalf of cross-cultural 1 understanding?

[Q] Read Acts 6:1–7. From what you know of the situation, would you describe this incident as an example of personal or systemic racism? Is it really that simple? What guidance does the apostles’ solution provide for Christians today?

[Q] Read Acts 10:23–46 or Galatians 2:11–13. What do these verses say to you about God’s role in changing people’s hearts and minds? How about our role as human beings?

[Q] What might opposing personal and systemic racism look like for your church? In your life? Brainstorm as a group.

4. Using Power Wisely (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:16; 112:5; Isaiah 1:17) Scene to Watch: Hanson requests a new partner (Elapsed time: 00:33:10–00:35:00)

[Q] What do you think of the way Lt. Dixon responds to Officer Hanson’s request for a new partner?

[Q] Do you perceive Dixon’s response as wise or unwise? What motivates him? From what you know, is his motivation understandable? Commendable? Scene to Watch: Confrontation at the HMO (Elapsed time: 00:46:25–00:49:09)

[Q] What’s behind Shaniqua’s refusal to go out of her way to help Officer Ryan’s father? How would you have responded?

[Q] How might Shaniqua’s actions be perceived as a victory of sorts? Why might that victory be a shallow one?

[Q] What could have taken place in Shaniqua’s heart to cause her to use her power in Mr. Ryan’s favor?

[Q] Consider the power these characters had: Graham, Anthony, Rick, and Cameron. Did these characters use their power and influence wisely?

[Q] Read Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:16; Psalm 112:5; and Isaiah 1:17. According to these Scriptures, how should we use our earthly power?

[Q] How do you use the power you have? How do you determine what is just?

As the Credits Roll

[Q] What other significant themes did you see in Crash?

[Q] How did you feel when this movie ended? Did you feel it was true to life? Why or why not?

[Q] Do you have a friend of a different background to talk to about Crash? How were his or her impressions of the film similar, and how did they differ?

[Q] How did this film challenge your faith or encourage you to see things in a new way?

—Study by LaTonya Taylor, editor with IGNITE YOUR FAITH magazine.

© 2006 • C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L Visit Smal lG roup s.c om and ChristianB ibl eStudies.c om MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE Crash A drama depicting a community’s true-to-life struggle with racism, alienation, and rage.

Crash takes viewers into modern-day Los Angeles, dramatizing the intersections of several characters’ lives over three days. In doing so, it reminds us of how racism, anger, and the struggle to achieve security in life can taint our interactions with one another.

Use this discussion guide to explore the themes of this movie. What does the film say about heroes and villains and our capacity to be either or both? How does our desire to protect and be protected cause us to react to perceived threats? What are some ways to begin a conversation about racism, and how can we learn to use our power for justice?

Based on: Crash (Lions Gate Films, 2005), directed by Paul Haggis, rated R. MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE – PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE Crash Page 2

Movie Summary

Over three days in modern-day Los Angeles, several characters’ lives overlap in ways that dramatize the interplay of race, culture, and class in American society. The film follows the intersecting stories of an African-American investigator and his Hispanic partner; an upper-class African-American couple insulted during an encounter with a seasoned, bitter cop and his young, idealistic partner; a Persian shopkeeper struggling to keep his family and business safe during tense, post 9-11 days; a Hispanic locksmith hoping to build a better life for his wife and daughter; a district attorney who’s not above using posturing and press conferences to win political points, and his angry, lonely wife; an Asian man who makes a living trafficking Asian immigrants; and two young carjackers—one with a sense of social consciousness, and one who’s just along for the ride. The 36-hour whirlwind begins and ends with a car accident: a collision, one character theorizes, emblematic of people’s need to touch one another, to interact. Still, like a car crash, few of these interactions are gentle. Most are couched in a tense environment of suspicion, self-preservation, misunderstanding, and alienation. Although many characters have shining moments when they transcend stock types, for many, life remains a struggle between internal and external tensions that are no less intense for their familiarity.

—For more coverage of Crash, visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/crash.html This movie was also one of CHRISTIANITY TODAY MOVIES’ “10 Most Redeeming Films of 2005” http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/tenredeemingfilmsof20 05.html

Rated R Crash is a film for mature audiences due to its subject matter, depictions of violence, sexual content, and frequent use of the f-word and racial slurs. It’s likely that any scene will contain material that some audiences will find offensive.

Select one or more of these themes to discuss:

1. Heroic Villains (Jeremiah 17:9–10; 2 Samuel 11–12:15; Judges 16; Matthew 26:31–35, 69–75) In Matthew 12:35, Jesus pointed out that our words and actions flow from the goodness or evil stored in our hearts. In the film, several of the characters perform a mix of heroic deeds and cowardly or evil ones.

2. Seeking Protection (Psalm 3; 91; Proverbs 31:8) The theme of protection emerges throughout Crash: Some characters seek personal safety, while others try to protect the things they have built, like their political stature or business. Still others put themselves on the line to protect others.

3. Thinking about Racism (Acts 10:23–46; 6:1–7; Galatians 2:11–13) Using the movie clips, discuss how we can begin dialoguing about racism.

4. Using Power Wisely (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:16; 112:5; Isaiah 1:17) Consider how the characters use their power and influence.

—Study by LaTonya Taylor, editor with IGNITE YOUR FAITH magazine.