Acceptance the main mission
Finding Dory
RELEASE DATE: 16 June 201
RATING: G
The BFG
RELEASE DATE: 30 June 2016
RATING: Yet to be classified at press time
Finding Dory is set in the Pacific Ocean, one year after the events of Finding Nemo. Dory, the forgetful blue tang, has taken up residence with Marlin and Nemo, the clownfish from the first film.
A series of dreams and events trigger lost memories of her parents, and Dory sets off to find them.
Jesus found many CHILDREN OF GOD in those others judged to be worthless company.
This leads the trio to California’s Marine Life Institute, a fictional preserve where Dory’s parents live. The break-in/break-out antics are reminiscent of the first film, though a new array of amusing companions keeps the comedy fresh.
However, the best thing by far is the take-home message. Finding Dory puts disability front and centre. We meet Dory when she’s little more than a fingerling, still learning to cope with a challenging mental condition: ‘My name is Dory … and I suffer from short-term memory loss’.
Flashbacks show how hard her parents worked to make her feel included and safe, as well as their emotional struggles hoping she’ll be safe in a world which rarely tolerates difference.
As they model patience and compassion, we flash forward to the present day in which Dory is often slighted, occasionally by those supposed to support her. Frustrated, Marlin tells her, ‘Go over there and forget! It’s what you’re good at’.
Finding Dory is a fabulous choice for the holidays because it delivers safe entertainment and gives children an insight into what it’s like to live with disability, and that genuine love, not merely tolerance, is what God desires for all his children.
Those of you with children facing this battle will also welcome the chance for them to see a story in which they are in the hero’s role.
The BFG is based on the multi-award winning book by Roald Dahl. This live-action drama introduces Sophie, an orphaned girl drawn to her window one night by strange sounds. There she sees a tall, dark shape. The creature spots Sophie and whisks her off to Giant Land. At first Sophie’s concerned she’s going to become her kidnapper’s dinner. ‘You think that because I’m a giant, I’m a man-gobbling canny-a-bull?’, laughs her keeper – and, in a trice, we’re introduced to the ‘Big Friendly Giant’.
The BFG is an outcast precisely because he doesn’t like eating children. Gigantic bullies with names like Bonecruncher and Childchewer torment him because he’s smaller and prefers vegetables to ‘human beans’. Instead, the grandfatherly BFG catches dreams and delivers them to children. He and Sophie become friends and our little heroine hatches a plan to put an end to his terrifying kindred.
The BFG’s lesson involves books and covers. Despite the BFG’s monstrous visage, Sophie soon learns he’s the gentlest of giants, drawn to her, ‘… because I hears your lonely heart’. Alongside this, the writers have laid the determination of even the littlest girl to do what is right. Both of these morals will sit well in a Christian home. Jesus found many children of God in those others judged to be worthless company. Likewise, every believing parent hopes their child will stand firm in the face of gigantic opposition.
The producers have taken liberties with the original story, but Sophie still heads off to enlist the aid of the queen. Mums and dads may use this to remind their kids how much we need the King of Heaven to solve sin’s colossal problems.
This review comes from The Lutheran July 2016. Visit the website to find out more about The Lutheran or to subscribe.
