Movie Club: A Proposal

I’m willing. It’s available through netflix so I’ll return a movie tomorrow and put this one at the top of our movie queue.

I just ordered the movie from Amazon since it was completely booked and checked out at all the local libraries where I got it originally.

Around August 4th I’ll post a discussion thread or bump this one….looking forward to discussing it.

I actually ordered the movie and had time to watch it recently. It’s the second time I’ve watched it, but I knew that given its depth and spirituality, I couldn’t just wing it from memory, and of course — yes — it brought new insights on a second watch, and will likely to so on a third watch.

For lurkers, it’s the story of a man who has certain weaknesses and failings, gets hit with some really tough life and financial circumstances, and then, in the depth of sorrows, starts getting significant revelation. He publishes a book about these Conversations with God which becomes a bestseller, and turns his life around. The movie ends with him seeing a vision of himself back when he was in the depths of sorrow, and together, his current successful self, and his hardship self walk together in silent acceptance and charity down the street.

For an LDS person, the opening scene — when he’s speaking to a group of people — reminded me very much of Joseph Smith, although the main character never claimed to be a prophet. He is sharing his knowledge in his conversations with God, and someone calls him out because he had a string of previously unsuccessful marriages, betrayed the women in his life, and is portrayed as a fake given his questionable background. One leaves the scene realizing this man accepts his past warts and mistakes, and allows God to work through him for the good of others anyway. Strange how a non-LDS book could have such a strong LDS strain in it through a bit of analogy.

The movie presents an alternate view of God, however, which is at loggerheads with the physical conception of God. In the story, God is portrayed as not a father figure with blesses and punishes. God speaks to us in our own voice, in our own language, and is always with us to help us and guide us; it’s implied that God is within us and that when we turn to him and mediate, we can find peace. It’s not always clear if God is an external force, or if he is part of the embryo within us that speaks to us when we are truly humble and in a state of meditation, leading to inner peace. Here are some key principles from the movie:

a) You don’t have to be perfect to receive powerful revelation from God and bless the lives of others

b) Learn to live life without wants; live life the best you can without the expectation of any specific result.

c) Create abundance from yourself by creating abundance for others

d) Act out of love, not fear

The closing scene, where he runs into a physical incarnation of himself as a homeless person not yet fully humbled and then walks away in quiet acceptance and peace with that person was very meaningful. For people who harbor angst about themselves, who regret their past, who beat themself up over mistakes, that scene not only provides self-acceptance, but also hope. It had a dual meaning. First that we can look back on our old self with full acceptance even though we might have at one time abhorred the things we did or thought. And for the person in the midst of hardship, we can look forward with hope to the day when we have passed through the hardship, having achieved higher levels of peace and spirituality.

I personally would like to discuss specific scenes and their meaning. I think multiple people would have multiple interpretations drawn from their own life experience…indeed, the movie implies that God speaks to us through a multitude of different ways, and the same situation can trigger different, but true revelation into the minds of very different people.

General thoughts from anyone who saw the movie?