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inspired by true events

Medieval – The real game of thrones

September 7, 2022 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“If you chose to fight, you may die—but for your cause, and that is a good death.”

Medieval from director Petr Jákl, is the story of a Czech hero, Jan Žižka. The film opens with voiceover saying “Blood. Tyranny. Intrigue. Power.” That might make you think of Game of Thrones, and you wouldn’t be far off. Medieval has all the cunning, betrayals, battles, and gore, but on a smaller scale (and without dragons). [Note: although the story and director are Czech, Medieval is an English language film.]

Set near the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, we are told of the divisions that face the Holy Roman Empire. There are also divisions in the church, with two popes, one in Rome, the other in Avignon. King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia (Karel Roden) is in line to become the new Emperor, but must get safely to Rome to be crowned. His half-brother Sigismund (Matthew Goode) and nobleman Henry III of Rosenberg (Til Schweiger) are plotting to prevent this in order to advance their own political power.

One of Wenceslas’s supporters, Lord Boresh (Michael Caine) hires the mercenary band led by Žižka (Ben Foster) to kidnap Rosenberg’s fiancé, Lady Katherine (Sophie Lowe) as leverage. Katherine is someone who hated the barbarity of the iron rule that the kings and knights enforce on the people. She is, we discover, drawn to the ideas of the Hussites, a religious sect that emphasized the laity (more on this later).

Katherine proves to be courageous and compassionate. Soon Žižka has fallen in love with her and his vision of the world begins to expand to see the value of the peasants who are so oppressed by the rulers of the world. Žižka begins to work with the peasants both because he is outnumbered by the various factions playing this game of thrones, and to empower them to defend their homes and families. In battle, Žižka begins to develop new strategies. And, of course, there must be a big one on one between Žižka and the brutal leader of Sigismund’s faction (Roland Møller) that will decide what becomes of Katherine—a battle in which she is also an important part.

Žižka goes on to be a great military leader as the leader during the Hussite Wars. This film is really more about his evolution from an outlaw-mercenary into a leader. He also evolves from the ideas of the divine right of kings to supporting the rights of the people when they rise up against oppression. His evolution is seen in another series of words in voiceover at the end of the film: “Honor. Justice. Freedom. Faith. Hope.”

The religious aspect of the film plays out in the background. There are some brief mentions of Jan Hus and Hussites, but most viewers will not have much understanding of how that all ties in. The Hussites were one of the movements within the church that led up to the Protestant Reformation. The Hussites believed in the power of the laity and that the church had become corrupt. (Who could blame them when the church couldn’t even agree on who was the real Pope?) They also rejected the idea that the law of the King was the law of God. The film includes a Hussite hymn (and battle song): “Ye who are God’s warriors, and of his law, Pray to God for help, and have faith in him.”

There is a certain democratization that accompanies the idea that the laity can be trusted with some of the important aspects of Christianity—such as being able to read the Bible for themselves. This film provides a touch of insight into a religious and political conflict that most of us don’t know about. But the intertwining of the two worlds is often a key part in the history of both the church and the political realm.

Medieval is playing in general release.

Photos courtesy of The Avenue.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Bohemia, Czech Republic, Holy Roman Empire, inspired by true events

House of Gucci – Desire Destroys a Family

December 5, 2021 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.” (Gen. 4:8 NRSV)

It is worth remembering that humankind’s first murder was a family affair. Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci is the newest way of telling the story of a family that destroys itself because of the greed, ambition, and hubris of its members. Certainly, that concept has fueled storytelling for eons. We think of the TV shows like Dallas and Dynasty, and currently HBO’s Succession. But House of Gucci is “inspired by the true events”. This is a real life version of that age old story.

Adam Driver stars as Maurizio Gucci and Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Fabio Lovino © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The film’s center is Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), a young working-class woman. Her father owns a small trucking company. At a party one night, she meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), the introverted scion of the fashion dynasty. When she hears his last name, her eyes light up, and we can tell she wants in. She works her way into Maurizio’s life and heart. His father Rudolfo (Jeremy Irons) thinks she’s nothing but a gold digger. He’s not far off, but there is more to it than that. When Rudolfo cuts off Maurizio’s money, Maurizio goes to work for Patrizia’s father until they marry, living a simple working-class life.

But Maurizio’s uncle Aldo (Al Pacino) connects to them, and the lira-sign lights in Patrizia’s eyes go off again. Aldo is the business brains of Gucci. He wants to expand. Rudolfo lives in the past and doesn’t want to change anything. Aldo’s son Paulo (Jered Leto, who steals every scene he’s in) wants to be a designer but is talentless. Aldo calls him an idiot, “but he’s my idiot”. He sees Maurizio as the future of the family business. Between Aldo and Patrizia, plans are made to bring Maurizio into the business. Now the conniving and manipulations can begin. Patrizia seems to always be at the center of it all. It is her ambition that drives the story—and in the process destroys the family.

(l-r.) Jared Leto stars as Paolo Gucci, Florence Andrews as Jenny Gucci, Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci, Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani and Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The story covers the period of the late 70s to the 90s. Along the way we watch as fashion changes. This is a world of extravagance, and Patrizia especially shows it to the world. In time Maurizio will also be drawn into this world of ostentation, just as he’s drawn into Patrizia’s ambition and cunning.

There is an interesting use of music in the film. Some of the time, the music is the popular music of the day. That feeds our nostalgia. But often we hear operatic music driving the scenes. The music reminds us that this is that thrives in the world of tabloids and people’s fascination with the rich and famous, but it is also a story of epic proportions that tells of the elemental mythos of the destructive power of ambition and hubris. That mythos that goes back to the story of Cain and Abel.

Adam Driver stars as Maurizio Gucci and Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Watching a movie is always something of a voyeuristic experience. That is especially the case here as we watch the rise and downfall of Patrizia and others. But we should also note that many of the desires that drive and ultimately destroy these characters often live within each of us. As it says in the story of Cain and Abel, “. . . Sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” House of Gucci shows us the dangers in nor mastering our desires.

Al Pacino stars as Aldo Gucci and Mãdãline Ghenea as Sophia Loren in Ridley Scott’s HOUSE OF GUCCI A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. © 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

House of Gucci is in wide theatrical release.

Photos courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Adam Driver, based on a book, family drama, Fashion, Gucci, House of Gucci, inspired by true events, Lady Gaga, murder, Ridley Scott, wealth

All the Money in the World – What Are Riches For?

January 4, 2018 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“Everything has a price. The real struggle in life is to determine what that is.”

How do you determine the price of the important things in life? That question lies in the background all through All the Money in the World. “Inspired by true events”, it is a thriller based on the 1973 kidnapping of a grandson of “the richest man who had ever lived”, J. Paul Getty. But it is also an examination of the way money can shape or distort our lives.

J. Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) is kidnapped off the streets in Rome. When the kidnappers call his mother Gail (Michelle Williams), her first reaction is that it is a joke. Paul has often joked that faking his kidnapping would be a way to get money from his tight-fisted grandfather and namesake (Christopher Plummer). The elder Getty enlists the aid of a former CIA operative, now his head of security, Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlburg), to get young Paul back. When Getty is unwilling to part with any of his fortune for Paul’s return, Fletcher and Gail become allies in trying to get save Paul.

The thriller aspect of the film, with various twists along the way, is compelling to keep our interest, but that just serves to lead us to consideration of the role money has in our lives. Do we see it as a means to an end? Can we use money to achieve happiness or to buy things we want? Or is money an end in itself? Does having wealth fulfill us?

Although Getty is exceedingly rich, in this film we see him as a miser. An early scene shows him in his lavish Roman hotel suite, with his laundry draped over bathroom fixtures. Why pay someone to do that? he asks. When he eventually does pay the ransom (negotiated down over several months while Paul is held captive and facing brutal treatment), it is based on what he can write off on taxes and as a loan to Paul. He uses his wealth as a weapon to punish Gail for the divorce settlement with his son.

Getty, at least as portrayed in the film, uses his vast wealth to acquire great art. He places his trust (and his hope for fulfillment and happiness) in possessions. He does not expect people—even his family—to provide those things. He only trusts in the tangible. The attitude that money has inherent value and should be obtained is something that Getty has in common with the kidnappers. They all consider money as more important than people. For Fletcher Chase and Gail Getty, money is only valuable for what can be done with it—and especially done to aid someone in need.

Wealth is a topic that comes up frequently in the Bible. At times it is seen as evidence on God’s blessing, but it is frequently seen as an illusion or even as a hindrance in our relationship with God. Some scriptures that could be appropriate to consider in thinking of this film:

  • The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
  • It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. (Mark 10: 25 and parallels)
  • The Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12: 16ff
  • The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10a)
  • For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower fails, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away. (James 1:11)

Our attitude towards riches often shapes our spiritual lives just as much as it provides the trappings of our day to day lives. All the Money in the World gives us a chance to reflect on how our approach to money affects the way we understand so much more.

Photos courtesy of All the Money US, LLC

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Charlie Plummer, christopher plummer, inspired by true events, Italy, J. Paul Getty, kidnapping, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Money, Ridley Scott

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