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Film Discussion Series
2010 Fall Film Discussion Series brochure 2010 Fall Christian Education brochure
Movie theatres are modern day techno-pulpits; people flock to their local multiplex to let directors and screenwriters influence how they feel, think and act. As image-bearers of God (the master storyteller, whose story spans all of creation) we in turn have a yearning to both create and be entertained by stories. This is evident even within scripture as Jesus teaches in parables. Holistic lessons are often learned more effectively through narrative than with bullet-point outlines and graphs. Christians should enjoy and engage film not just as entertainment, but also with a honed philosophical lens to engage culture, and reflect on how it relates to the gospel. Everyone is invited to the OPC Film Discussion Series to view a variety of films, each in its entirety, on a big screen with great sound, followed by exposition and discussion of the film's cinematic and philosophical elements, facilitated by our own filmmaker and theologian Bob Ruefle.
Screening Dates
Sept. 10 ~ Avatar Sept. 24 ~ The Blind Side Oct. 8 ~ Invictus Oct. 16 (at 6 pm in the Dining Room) ~ My Name is Bill W Oct. 22 ~ When Love is not Enough Nov. 5 ~ Letters to God Nov. 19 ~ To Save a Life Dec. 3 ~ The Note Dec. 17 ~ Serendipity
Free Admission Everyone is Welcome! Come on in to the Friendship Hall for film, fun and fascinating discussion.
When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.
Based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who is father is and his mother is a crack head. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Michael Oher was the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft.
The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.
Based on the true story of Bill W. (James Woods), a successful stock broker whose life falls apart after the stock crash of the 20's and how he comes to grips with his alcoholism. Along with a fellow alcoholic (James Garner) he forms a support group that would eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous.
Based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A young boy fighting cancer writes letters to God, touching lives in his neighborhood and community and inspiring hope among everyone he comes in contact. An unsuspecting substitute postman, with a troubled life of his own, becomes entangled in the boy's journey and his family by reading the letters. They inspire him to seek a better life for himself and his own son he's lost through his alcohol addiction.
Jake Taylor has everything. He has a beautiful girl, he's the champion in basketball and beer pong, and everyone loves him. Then, an old childhood friend, whom Jake used to be friends with, commits suicide. Jake begins to think. He wonders what he could've done to save his friend's life. A youth minister tells him that Jake needs God. So Jake becomes a Christian. However, things begin to spin out of control. His dad is cheating on his mom, his girlfriend is pregnant, and his former friends ridicule and mock him. During all this, Jake is going to realize just what it means to be a Christian and how, to save a life.
When a plane crashes, Newspaper columnist Peyton MacGruder discovers a Note that was meant for the child of one of the passengers. "The Note" shows how dramatically life can change in a spilt second...the need to make a connection and reach out to someone you care about. If only we had a chance for those final goodbyes, to offer words of reconciliation, to say I love you or share regret. Who would you write to if you had only a few moments? What would you say?
Jonathan Trager and Sara Thomas met while shopping for gloves in New York. Though buying for their respective lovers, the magic was right and a night of Christmas shopping turned into romance. Jon wanted to explore things further but Sara wasn't sure their love was meant to be. They decided to test fate by splitting up and seeing if destiny brought them back together... Many years later, having lost each other that night, both are engaged to be married. Still, neither can shake the need to give fate one last chance to reunite them. Jon enlists the help of his best man to track down the girl he can't forget starting at the store where they met. Sara asks her new age musician fiance for a break before the wedding and, with her best friend in tow, flies from California to New York hoping destiny will bring her soulmate back. Near-misses and classic Shakespearean confusion bring the two close to meeting a number of times but fate will have the final word on whether it was meant to be.
Click on the links below for more information about:
For more information about education at OPC please contact our Education Coordinator, Bev Taylor. 412.828.5770
About our host... Bob Ruefle recently graduated with a Master of Divinity from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He led the Contemporary Worship Team and Service for three years, served on the PTS Worship Committee and the Committee for Community Life. He loves to preach, lead worship, and participate in mission and evangelism efforts locally and around the world. He believes that the Lord has called him to work with young adults and to be involved in various forms of multimedia ministry. He has participated in considerable research over the last few years on Youth, Media, and Culture. He has over fifteen years experience in acting for the Theatrical State and in television and film production. Bob is overjoyed to be leading the theology and film series, as well as teaching the Young Adult Class at OPC. |
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