Haller Lake United Methodist Church

2008 Lenten Faith and Film Series

Saturday, February 9, 2008

The Film:  Groundhog Day

   
   
   
   
   
Preparation Helps
   
This film is a delightful comedy about a poor guy who feels his life is going nowhere.  So, guess what?  The film-makes sure it in fact does go nowhere.  Phil Conners (played by Bill Murray) is tired of going, year after year, to the same small town, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to film the celebration of Ground Hog Day.  This year’s journey will be different. 
  1. Consider the following Bible verses; they may form the background for the film.  Robert Jewett, a film critic, considers the theme of this film as “Stuck in Time.” 
    from Galatians 6: 7-10
        7Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.  9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.  10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. 
    from Ecclesiastes 3: 1.8
    For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a tim- to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to throw away stones, and.a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a.time to love, and a.time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
  2. Now reflect on these words by Robert Jewett:
    There are ways in which great movies are … inspired.  Biblical texts have sustained faith communities in circumstances both adverse and happy over several thousand years; they are formative in my narrative framework for many forms of contemporary entertainment, not to speak of their effect on the nationa.,consciousness and the civil religion. … But although the texts of the Bible deserve a measure of priority, we shall not find them to be overbearing partners in the dialog with contemporary films.  Like Paul in his willingness to accommodate himself to the needs of various cultural groups. … the biblical texts, when understood in the context of their original stories are flexible, adaptable, and.provocative in their bearing on contemporary films,  (Explorations in Theology and Film, ed. Clive Marsh & Gaye Ortiz, © Blackwell Publishers, 1997).
     
    Consider the Biblical texts as a sub-theme of this film. 
  3. Have you,ever felt that your life was going nowhere?  What happened to change that, or what would change that for you?  What changes for Phil Conners? 
  4. Do you think he “earns” his salvation?  What does salvation mean to Phil? 
  5. Are you surprised to find religious themes in this comedy?