WARNING! SPOILERS FOR BOTH "Fury" and "Unbroken"
I have remarked in a past blog post how Hollywood could be slowly turning into Holywood. Last year, Brad Pitt starred in a film that promoted the Christian faith in the World War II epic "Fury." In the WWII Tanker Flick, Shia Labouf plays a preacher who asks the new rookie if he is "saved?" and subsequently quotes The Scriptures throughout the movie. This culminates in the sacrifice of Shia Labouf 's character and most of the Tanker squad in the final desperate fight to fend off the Nazi troops.
Well it seems Brad Pitt was not to be alone in his support of Christian storytelling. His wife and well known actress, Angelina Jolie, has directed a picture that promotes Christ and the path of all Christians! Her film "Unbroken", which I have only now just seen, is a spectacle that could save many souls and serve as great encouragement for those already saved!
I should not have to warn, but there will be major spoilers. I shall dispense with praising Jolie's brilliance behind the camera and the typical assessment of the actors and their phenomenal performances. I do this not because the performances were poor, nay they were near perfect! However, I want to get to the heart of the spirituality and symbolism that pervades in this motion picture and explain why it should not be bypassed by any believer.
Before I delve into the depths of the divine embedded in this film, I shall lay the backdrop. This movie tells the true story of Louie, an Italian immigrant to America who qualifies for the Olympics and serves in the Allied Forces Air Force during World War II. Louie's story is told in present tense and flash backs.
The first moment of faith is not mirage or interpretation, it is the Gospel plain and easy to understand! In a scene Louie is a child in Church and the priest speaks these words, "God made two lights, one to govern the day, which is the greater and the other, the moon to govern the night. We must make it through the night, we must make it to morning light." Then the scene pans to Jesus Christ upon the cross in the form of the crucifix and the priest says, "Jesus came not to do battle with sinners, but he took on the dark, and said, "love thy enemy." I was quite astounded that Angelina so clearly depicted the Gospel. For those who have qualms with her wording, Jesus did not come to destroy sinners, but to save us, it says, "I did not come into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (John 3:14). Then Jesus took on the dark forces such as the devil and death, and defeated them both! (see Colossians 1:13). Finally, Jesus did love His enemy, He loved us! We were the enemies of God! We in our sin were rebels under our the mastery of the evil one. But the Lord in His mercy, came and died upon the cross so that we may shake off our shackles and service to Satan and be saved in the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ!
From this centerpiece of Christianity, Angie takes us back to the war. There Louie and his brothers in arms crashes upon the seas. Louie in the sinking plane is pinned, but closing his eyes, offers up a prayer and suddenly is released and makes his way safely to the surface. There adrift on rafts, three survivors, including Louie must struggle to survive. Miracles abound, as an Albatross comes to them when they are out of food and again they use the Albatross' feet to fish. There on the raging seas, Louie makes a promise to the Lord that if he can "make it out of this alive, He will give his life to the Lord's service." Later among the snakes the sea (the sharks), Louie and his friends must bail because an enemy plane spots them and begins firing. One of Louie's friends has blood sore and the sharks swarm, but God in his protection allows the bullets of the enemy plane to hit one of the Tigers of the sea and thus the other water lions fed on their kin, sparing Louie and his friends. The battle on the sea for Louie reminds me of the Disciples in their storms on the Sea of Galilee, one of which Jesus walked out to them on the water. (Matthew 14:22-33). Such a scene is featured when Louie devotes himself to the Lord and the symbolism should not be lost on us followers of Christ.
Louie's struggle has only begun. He and his friend are captured by Japanese troops. From there he suffers in an interment camp in the jungle and then is shipped to a Jap camp where he is subjected to serve abuse under the camp Corporal nicknamed "The Bird." Louie does not break, even when The Bird commands every Allied Soldier to sock him in the face, their numbers being in the hundreds. Louie embraces suffering and takes the beating to save another soldier from death. It is clear that this is symbolic of Jesus' teaching which says, "do not resist the evil person, but if they slap you, turn the other cheek as well." (Matthew 5:39). In fact, Louie turns his cheek literally and encourages his comrades in the camp to smite him and takes other breatings of the kind from The Bird with grace. Throughout the torture and abuse, Louie looks upon his enemy, "The Bird" without bitterness.
Finally we come to the last test of Louie's enduring spirit. Our hero is taken to another camp that mines coal in the cold mountains of Japan. There he is reunited with his adversary "The Bird" who has been promoted and not forgotten his fondness to fillet and hurt Louie. Eventually The Bird decides to test Louie to the breaking point by having him lift a metal beam the size of those that make up skyscrapers and hold it up. The penalty if Louie drops the beam is certain death by rifle. But Louie does not drop the bream, but instead in sheer defiance and determination stares his enemy in the face and lifts the metal above his mind. The Bird responds with an astonished voice, "don't look at me!" and begins to beat Louie senselessly. This scene is obviously alluding to Jesus bearing his cross. Here Louie in like manner must endure the weight of his own cross made of steel. This is Jolie's nod to Jesus' words that says, "deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24). Actually, that entire passage could sum up Unbroken entire story!
In the end, Louie and his languishing comrades are set free when the cessation of hostilities between the US and Japan is announced. The last scene has Louie leaving his plane and meeting his family on the airfield. What follows is photos of the real life Louie and his story after the movie ends. Louie it says, "Made good his promise and dedicated his life to God." It then says, "He decided not to seek revenge, but forgiveness. And returned to Japan where he made peace with his former captors, all save The Bird who would not meet Him." There is scene after the US and Japan make peace, where Louie goes up to The Bird's quarters and finds his room neatly kept in order. On a mantle is the Bird as child and his father who looks austere. From this picture we can presume that The Bird lived under tyrant like father without love. In Japan during the "Rising Sun" years, perfectionism because almost a religion. Those who did not excel and preform without utmost precision were considered weak and worthless. We learn during the scenes the Bird is in that He did not make the cut as an officer and the symbolism of him having wooden Daito (Samurai Sword) instead of the real Samurai sword was an allusion to that he was not worthy of the honor and in the Japanese culture then, and to a lesser extent now, honor is what matters most.
Unbroken is a film of unprecedented encouragement. It is a window into what the Christian life is suppose to look like. Earlier in the film, Louie's best friend Pete tells him in a moment of self doubt, "If you can take it, you can make it." This becomes the mantra of Louie and the soul of the film. Truly, this very line is divine and denotes the Christian walk. For Christ took it all to save us and now we take the abuse and suffering to make it to heaven! The message of the Gospel is so thick in Unbroken, that it is impossible to break it apart from the film itself! Angelina Jolie is at last living up to her name, angel, which means "messenger from God," in the Bible and doesn't always mean the angelic race with wings!
I recommend Unbroken to unbeliever and believer alike. For the unbeliever ponder as you watch what the Gospel says as you watch great trials and tribulation befall Louie. For the believer, be aware of this exceedingly rare encouragement and endorsement of our faith! At last a film that does not subvert, but supports and even serves to spread belief in Jesus Christ!
As for the critics who say that Angie left out the tent revivals that Louie attended with his wife, they are mentioned, but just because they are not featured is not a reason to pass on this film! Unbroken does not break the Gospel told in the life of this American Hero! It tells it unequivocally and literally in the scene of Louie's youth and then in allegory and symbolism through the rest of the film to the credits where it mentions Louie's life being devoted to the Lord.
God see Unbroken and let it inspire you to not break into this life and instead "make it" to Christ's side in heaven! St. Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7). Louie actually is a runner in the story! So that is another Scriptural allusion or allegory! Indeed like Paul said and what you see Louie do in Unbroken, "fight the good fight, run the race, and keep he faith!"
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