great movies for the weekend...that keep the poor in mind

it is the weekend and time for a good film or two...i stayed up entirely too late last night watching "the girl in the cafe"...funny, powerful, film ...love story..good date flick if you don't mind a little nudity. the best part is the message! it's about ending world poverty and involves the G8. the screen writer just happens to be richard curtis who wrote "love actually" one of rob's favorite films...and it has great humor, sensitivity and passion...just out on dvd...
the other film that takes you on a wild, suspensful ride...including love story, is "the constant gardner"!
another great date film...with same warning as above...but this is a thriller set in kenya and london and
involves big drug companies using the poor as guinea pigs...rob and i both loved this!
and both of these films really bring home the message of the past few days regarding poverty in our midst! not just in africa...not just on the gulf coast, but right here at home in my hometown! i get the sojourners weekly email news and this week they are doing a daily email regarding the katrina disaster ..

jim wallis had a powerful letter today, here's just a bit:

"katrina has revealed what was already there in America; an invisible and mostly silent poverty that we have chosen not to talk about, let alone to take responsibility for in the richest nation on earth. This week, we all saw it; and so did the rest of the world. And it made Americans feel both compassionate and ashamed. Many political leaders and commentators, across the ideological spectrum, have acknowledged the national tragedy, not just of the horrendous storm, but of the realities the flood waters have exposed. And some have suggested that if the aftermath of Katrina finally leads the nation to demand solutions to the poverty of upwards of a third of its citizens then something good might come from this terrible disaster.

That is what we must all work toward. Rescuing those still in danger, assisting those in dire need, relocating and caring for the homeless, and beginning the process of recovery and re-building are all top priorities. But dealing with the stark and shameful social and racial realities Katrina has revealed must become our longer term but clear goal. That will require a combination of public and private initiatives, the merger of personal and social responsibility, the rebuilding of both families and communities, but also the confronting of hard questions about national priorities. Most of all it will require us to make different choices."

i highly recommend joining the weekly email...great quotes, links, etc.

so for the weekend..perhaps you'd rather save the film money for the relief effort...
but if you're needing a break from the tv and want to be inspired ...catch one of these films!
i'm off to NOW( night of worship) .. i just do the creative, atmosphere architecture bits for this
monthly gig at rob's church..
tonight we are focusing on repentance...and i am feeling the major need to REPENT for my lack of compassion for the poor right in my own neighborhood!
hope your weekend is peaceful! lil

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Comments

[Chuck]

Deb and I saw "The Constant Gardner" - I was anxiously awaiting it's release, since I truly loved the book. There are still some images of 3rd world aid camps inspired by the book that haunt/challenge me. LeCarre did a wonderful job of tying the "cradle of civilization/garden of eden" imagery. That imagery is more relevant and close to home than ever in light of Katrina. Fantastic, well done film, indeed.

We enjoyed the Glendale Pub cohort a couple of weeks back. Let us know when the next one is scheduled. Also, sounds like film is a common interest - if you ever want to have a film night, we could host it - have a wide-screen. I have some favorite films I'd love to watch with other like-minded folks.

Chuck

[Dan-Monastic Skete]

I loved the girl in the cafe movie. Saw it the week before the real thing.