Answer each of the following questions with a well developed paragraph.
This film may find its way to the kids' section of the store or library,
but if a child can fathom all the ideas it raises and catch all the
details of the intricate construction of the scenes, I'll buff his halo.
1. Let's start with some general reactions. What do you think of the movie so far? What do you think the focus of the film is about half way through?
2. What do you make of Damian's visions? Is he a believer or is he just hallucinating?
3. The saints in this film are hardly stiff icons of pious suffering. If we are to take them as guiding figures – and they do offer advice to Damian --, what kind of behavior do they promote? What does a faithful life look like if they are the representatives of such a life?
That's it for now. There will be much more to say once we finish the film.
1.So far, I really like this movie. I think that the plot of having a little boy believing in saints is very unique. Most people would not understand religion at such a young age and also, have the confidence to explain it in front of others. The focus of the film is the dilemma between helping the needy or helping yourself. The main character, Damian, knows what the right answer is, but he is consistently persuaded by his brother to keep the money to themselves. Also with the criminal present, Damian trusts in the saints to help in making the right decisions.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Damian’s visions indicate that he is a believer. If he were hallucinating, I don’t think he would know that much about a saint’s life span. I think that the saints are a sign from God telling Damian about what decisions he should make. In Damian’s new community, it would be considered awkward for someone to believe in something so abstract. I think this because in the beginning of the movie, the police didn’t refer to them by their names, rather as “the Mormons”. I think that religion is not as valued in this community so Damian’s vision make him seem delusional, but really he is a true believer.
3. To answer this question, I think that it depends on the saint. When the saint was in Antonio’s fortress near the train station, she was smoking a cigarette. To the contrary, another saint was helping Damian stuff money into a mailbox. Whether they are good or bad saints, they all make an impact on their lives.
1. I have enjoyed the jive thus far. I think that the whole idea about whether it is right to keep stolen money and give it away or keep it for yourself is an interesting thought. Because in the movie you think Anthony is acting really selfish but at the same time I could see myself doing a similar thing. I think the main focus is the whole idea about Damian doing the right thing when nobody else really is.
ReplyDelete2. I think that he is a believer because he has such a rich knowledge of each Saint which is a very mature understanding of Christian history. Each senerio that a saint enters is relevant to the situation. And each Saint also gives helpful advice to him.
3. I think that the message that they are portraying is that even though life stinks on earth as long as you have that faith you will be rewarded in heaven. Also they are telling him that what he is trying to do is the right thing and to ignore his brother
1. I like the plot of the movie. I find it interesting that such a young boy gives a majority of his money away to the poor. This seems very unusual since most young boys would, I'm guessing, spend the money all on toys or things that please them, but not Damian. I also thought the ethics of the film were conflicting in regard to whether Damian should turn in the stolen money or keep it and give it to the people in need at his own danger. I think the focus of the film is about belief and how believing in something, such as religion, can motivate you to do the right thing, like Damian. His beliefs in the Saints help him give the money to the poor.
ReplyDelete2. I think Damian is a believer. I know he was young when his mom died, but it is still his mother, and when people lose something or someone they have faith in something to cling to. I think this is the same for Damian. The loss of his mother and nurturer makes him need something else to cling to for help and comfort, and he chooses a belief in the Saints. He repeatedly asks the Saints about another Saint who recently went up to heaven, which I'm guessing is his mom, showing his care for her and how he misses her. Damian's beliefs help comfort him during a time of loss.
3. I think the Saints are promoting to help others in need. In most cases that Damian imagines a meeting with a Saint, he is told to do good with the money he found. The Saints may not directly tell him what to do with the money, but they seem to be pointing him towards that idea. Also, I think the state that the Saints are in shows that a life promoting faith still leads to suffering. When the Saints appear, they are in worn-down clothes and look tired and dirty. The Saints look like they bared a life of suffering despite their faithfulness. So just because you're faithful doesn't mean you will be rewarded. Damian was when he found the money, but now he has to face the robber who is trying to take the stolen money back.
ReplyDelete1.I think that an obvious theme is religion and faith, especially Damian's relationship with it. He is using the idea of saints to help him deal with his mother's death and to provide him with the guidance that he seeks. I also think that the film is examining morality, and what is and isn't ethical, through the eyes of a very innocent character. He still sees things as black and white, good and bad, and I think that will change over the course of the film.
2. The distinction is hard to make, especially because of his age. I think he does believe in them, even though he does express some doubt about their existence. Towards the beginning of the film, he says something to his brother along the lines of "you know when you see things that only you can see?". He may be aware that the saints are not tangible people, but he believes that his visions are real saints visiting him. However, it will be interesting to see if he begins to further doubt his faith in religion in the second half of the movie, after he realizes the money bag was not from God.
3. The saints are portrayed in an amiable and approachable way, perhaps because Damian imagines them. They are not all similar, but they all push Damian in a similar direction. While some saints directly influence him, such as the Saint who helped him give money to the Mormons, most give him general advice. Whether they are imagined or real, the saints seem to all promote Christian ideals. Overall, they want him to do good with the money and somehow give it to the less fortunate.
1. So far I think the movie is funny and lighthearted ecen though some of the themes are not. I like Damien, he is a nice character.I think that the focus of the film is that religion and faith teaches you to be a good person.
ReplyDelete2. I have no idea what is going on in Damien's brain. The saints are good, but there is no way to tell if he is just hallucinating or being imaginative.
3.The saints promote behavior that is nice and moral. They leave all the decisions to Damien and don't stress him. The saints are promoting a moral and just lifestyle.
1. I really liked this film becuase it is so different than anything that I have ever seen before. I really liked the use of cinematography and the unique perspectives that the director uses. For instance, the scene with Damian in his fort, it looked a to bigger and more like an actual house because of the way it was depicted. I like the contrast between wanting to be good and questioning what being good truly means.
ReplyDelete2. I think Damian want ps to be a good person, so he looks towards a familiar subject, in his case saints, to look for answers. The fact that they are saints is significant becuase it introduces Christianity, but it also explores the more human struggle of wanting to be good.
3. In this film, the figures that give Damian advice promote giving money to the poor and realizing ones limits. It is not possible to help all poor people and it is impossible to seek out all poor people, but one should help poor people givin the chance.
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ReplyDeleteJudging by the differences in belief in God, I don't think Spike Lee is satirizing belief, but rather he is showing that beliefs depends on what type of person you are and that it has a wide range of definitions. In the film, there are many different levels of belief in God. On the highest level, there are the bishops, the deacons and the sisters, who have full faith in God and in the church. On a middle tier is Flik, who in the beginning is not convinced by the power of God, but throughout the movie, develops an understanding of Him. On the lowest tier is Box and Blessing. I put them on the same level together because they both had their belief in God taken away from them; for Box, it was being caught up in the street life and for Blessing, it was Bishop Enoch, who made him read scriptures while the Bishop inappropriately touched him. Spike Lee does this to show why conflict can happen in towns like this. Since for some in the film, God is not a huge part of their lifestyle so it is hard for them to connect with their neighbors.
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