From a couple of ‘Net-friends

We saw, “A Walk to Remember”, a film about a teenage romance that led a guy to change his life. It has a clear religious message. Might be suitable for youth groups. A bit of foul language, but realistic and nothing they wouldn’t be familiar with. It’s also a good one if your tear ducts need flushing out.

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Greetings,

You’re right, this is what I wrote to the Youth Leader Mail list about “Walk to Remember”.

A WALK TO REMEMBER — A STORY TO SHARE

I’ve just returned from seeing an pretty good movie. There’s not too much stuff on the screen that deals honestly and realistically with issues of faith for teenagers. “Walk to Remember” does that in an engaging, if mid-western American, way. I’m no great fan of Mandy Moore but did warm to both the characterisation and the story line. The 15 year old I went with thought it was not too bad in spite of her low expectations.

Read the review below for more information about a media tool you could easily use in your youth ministry. Its a movie with little sex and no substance abuse and there’s not much foul language. But this movie is packed full of clips that would start discussion with your group on a whole raft of issues relevant to young people. Catch it soon with your youth group or just check it out so you’ll be ready to go when it hits the video shops later in the year. Yep, its a high school ‘chick flick’ but it’s not a bad one.

Based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks “A Walk to Remember” is about a good girl helping a bad guy find the good in himself.

When an initiation prank ends with a young person badly injured Landon Carter (Shane West) takes the blame. His group of friends are the cool crowd at high school, so when his punishment includes being forced to take part in a school play, for him it’s a fate worse than death. The un-coolest member of the drama club is Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), the daughter of the Reverend Sullivan (Peter Coyote). Her fashion sense and “niceness” are the butt of endless tired jokes which seem to wash over her without effect.

While doing the school end of year play he gets to know a self-assured Jamie and falls for her, despite what he thinks is his better sense and the opinions of his friends. Landon finds himself intrigued by this guileless girl who sees beauty in everything and exhibits unwavering faith in God, people and in the world. The two eventually fall in love but then tragedy then interrupts their happiness and threatens Landon’s transformation.

However, despite Jamie’s impending death Landon stays by her side and does everything he can to make her dreams come true. Hollywood Jesus says that, in an era in which teen films have become a genre unto themselves, “A Walk to Remember” stands apart. More than a teenage romance, it is a love story between two people who just happen to be high school seniors.

“As a story being told from the point of view of teenagers,” says producer, Denise Di Novi, about Nicholas Sparks’ novel, “it is popular not only with teenagers but with younger kids and with adults of all ages because it’s a reminder of what is really important in life – unconditional love, hope and faith, things that have been proven for thousands of years to be the sustenance of human beings. I think that message is appealing to people not only in their teenage years, when they may encounter these feelings for the first time, but all throughout their lives.”

In Sparks book, Landon says that Jamie “helped me become the man I am today. With her steady hand she showed me how important it was to help others; with her patience and kindness she showed me what life is really all about ….Jamie also taught me the value of forgiveness and the transforming power that it offers … Jamie held no grudges. Jamie led her life the way the Bible taught.”

This film will be a good discussion starter on topics such as peer pressure, friendship, purity, self-esteem, courage, sharing faith, commitment to God, forgiveness, and true love. Jamie is a strong positive example for young Christian teenagers and the movie could be one of the best ministry tools on the screen this year.

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Shalom!

Rowland Croucher