Reflection on the movie

A Man For all Seasons
Summary
In the movie ‘A Man for All Seasons,’ Fred Zinnemann depicts the life of St. Thomas Moore. Thomas is an upper-class man who has stringent morals. He is a strict Catholic and attends vespers every evening. Thomas shows his moral standings right from the beginning. As the movie begins, he is in his house chatting with Richard. Richard is a young scholar with deep sated ambition for power. She wishes to become influential like Thomas More. In this first scene, More gives Richard a silver cup that he has received as a bribe from a woman who has a case in his courts. Immediately after, he is summoned by the bishop of England who presents the question that will trouble him throughout the rest of his life. The king is married to Catherin of Aragon. However, she is barren, only having one daughter. He, therefore, does not have an heir. He wishes to divorce her and marry another wife so that they can have sons. Though subsets we learn that only the Pope has the authority to dissolve a marriage and has refused to do so. In desperation, the King bribes the bishops to terminate the Church of England’s relationship with Rome. Henceforth, the King will be the head of the English church and will not recognize the pope. Being an ardent Catholic, Thomas refuses to recognize this transition and therefore resigns as chancellor of England. Since he is a man of Influence, it is important to the authorities that he recognizes he sides with the King. In a series of events in which Thomas is abandoned by his closest friends and associates, he never even once renounces his belief in the supremacy of the Church of Rome.

Unable to draw his submission, the court, through the false witness of Richard finds him guilty of high treason. He is therefore executed through cutting off the head.
Analysis
Thomas is depicted as a man steadfast in his faith. His convictions are not only admirable for his time but perfect for evolution by modern-day Christians. Among the first characteristics that emerge from the character of Thomas is Justice. When he is given an expensive silver cup that he does not need, he donates it’s to Richard who is poorer. He is merciful and has a great capacity to forgive. At the beginning of the movie, he is irreconcilable with his future son in law whom he accuses of heresy. He even refuses to bless his marriage to his daughter on the basis of his faith. However, when the son-in-law converts, he readily welcomes him into his home. He is ready to do anything to denounce evil and embraces every good.
This is what the modern society should strive for. Eagerness to act in the best interest of everyone without compromise of individual values results in a better humanity. Among the most impactful words that Thomas utters in the court is that he wishes no one harm. In the modern era, Christianity is more commonly associated with judgment and punishment. This movie shows that it is possible to be faithful to God without necessarily taking His position as the judge of other’s people hearts. Nevertheless, it encourages one to continue making a missionary appeal, especially to one’s friends. Thomas never tires to attempt to awaken the conscience of Norfolk without bashing him as evil. This is the attitude that all Christians and especially Catholics should take towards missionary evangelism.
The Good Catholic
Summary
‘The Good Catholic’ by Paul Shoulberg is a movie that depicts the challenges of faith in the modern day. The movie follows a story of a young priest by the name of Fr. Daniel. The movie begins as the priest recites his Rosary in the confession box. However, it is clear that he is distracted. Fr. Daniel lives in a parish with two other priests. These fellow priests are radically different. While one is solemn, moralistic and attentive to details, the other is jovial and carefree. While Fr. Victor insists on the organization in the details of the Mass, songs and ritual, Fr. Ollie modifies these relationships to suit the mood and occasion. Fr. Daniel is initially ambivalent about these events. He follows every rule but participates in trivialities such as watching basketball. However, this changes in one of the Friday night confessions. A young lady comes to tell the priest that she is dying. She, therefore, wants him to carry out her dying wishes. The lady continues to come, which sparks a friendship between the two. Fr. Daniel has to come to terms with the fact that he loves Jane. However, they must make rules for the friendship that recognize the sanctity of priesthood. Unfortunately, this is short-lived. When he invites her to supper, the Fr. Victor is not very receptive. He forces him to choose between His passion for Christ and her friendship. Ultimately, Fr. Daniel chooses his affection and commitment to God. However, in a pleasant turn of events, Fr. Victor himself reminds Daniel that Love and God are inseparable. Whoever has known love has understood God. The movie thus ends with Daniel marvel at this discovery and as he runs to Jane’s house.
Analysis
This is a film that shows how it is possible to live a person’s faith without censoring any of their parts. It is about accepting the fact that other people can be different from an individual but all not necessarily adversaries. In the last homily, Fr. Victor accepts that he has been wrong. Since he found God in the solemnity of Mass and concise details, HE expected everyone to do the same. He could not understand why someone could not see God in the ways he did. Eventually, he accepts that this opinion was flawed. ‘If we love one another, God lives within us!’ This is his last proposition. If God, therefore, lives within the human beings, every relationship with the other person must be valued. It must be seen as a relationship with Christ. If modern Catholics emulate this model, the will find it much easier to co-exist with God’s creation. As the Franciscan priest Fr. Ollie says, ‘without compassion and the ability to experience the suffering of other people, there cannot be Christianity.’ At the same time, the ability to be faithful to God without censoring individual needs is emphasized. It is important that Victor waits for Daniel to convert and declare his true fidelity to Christ before telling him that loving Jane was not wrong. What matters it the realization that things only becoming meaningful when lived in a relationship with Christ. The only basis of living a proper of living a Christian life is by looking at everything and everyone through the eyes of Christ.

Bibliography
Shoulberg, Paul. The Good Catholic. DVD. Shoulberg, 2017.
Zinnemann, Fred. A Man For All Seasons. DVD. Globe Theatre, 1966.