I recently watched the two movies Bright Star and The Young Victoria. These movies seem to have so much in common - both are period dramas based on true stories, taking place in England in the first half of the 19th century. The lead female characters are both eighteen and the male leads are in their mid twenties. Both films are rated PG are are free of explicit content. And yet with all their similarities, they are strikingly different.
My conscience did not allow me to love Bright Star. The film, which revolves around poet John Keats and his romantic attachment to Fanny Brawne, is made quite well and maintains historical accuracy, but my issue with it lies with Miss Brawne's character. Throughout the story, she proves herself to be immature, selfish and melodramatic. She continually pursues John Keats, handicapping his lead. He realizes that he can not afford to marry and attempts to safeguard Fanny's heart, but what she wants, she gets. It seemed as though the majority of her character was counter Kingdom and I could not endear myself to her.
Then we watched The Young Victoria. This film takes a deeper look into the time just before Queen Victoria's coronation at the age of eighteen through her marriage to and young married life with Prince Albert. Although Victoria's character is far from perfect, she displays the feminine grace and heart that is worthy of emulation. She allows Prince Albert to pursue her and conducts herself with guarded beauty. Their love story is founded on healthy femininity and masculinity, each fulfilling their proper role, allowing the other to thrive. These characters have quickly stolen my heart and this film has become one of my all time favorites.
What's the difference? What's the big deal? I have come to a place of frustration with the films that my generation in the church have fallen in love with. I'm not even talking about inappropriate content, although that is important. Both of these films were quite clean and bore the PG rating, but they conveyed such different messages. Selfishness vs. giveness - immaturity vs. responsibility - infatuation vs. ardent love. So many of the movies that young women claim are their favorite movies are the ones which glorify selfishness, rebellion, impurity, and deception. Don't even get me started on The Notebook! Shouldn't we be glorifying the love stories that line up with the Kingdom we profess to belong to. If we continue to be so enamored with the world's version of love, how can we expect to ever have something better? I believe more and more everyday that if we continue to indoctrinate ourselves with the cheap version of love all around us, it will surely be our fate.
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