The premise of the film "The invention of lying" is an interesting one - a world where everyone always speaks the truth, and indeed shares what's on their mind/heart all the time. I was struck by how bleakly such a world was portrayed, as if the truth for many is self absorbed and an inability to see the good in others. When the main character discovers he can lie, he uses it to spread happiness to others and not just for his own means - talking a neighbour out of suicide by offering hope for the future in a way he'd been unable to do before when entrenched in his perspective of the "truth" about this guy as a "loser." There's a lot on that "loser" theme in this film and I think my favourite moment was when the female lead, bound by truth, was able to expand her perspectives and see alternatives truths to the mainstream categorising of people as losers, and was able to offer hope and compassion - and didn't need to be able to lie to do so. I believe there are many truths and we can open our eyes and hearts to see them.
I think it'd be a great film for church groups to discuss - I found some of the parodying of Christianity to be funny, although a lot was cynical. I think it helps raise important questions as to if religion is merely an opiate for the people. When promised with an afterlife, behaviour changed in all kind of ways - some stopped caring about their life now. Ultimately it was a comedy and not a deep analysis on the place of religion, and that's totally fine by me. You can borrow my copy if you live near enough!
Meanwhile I'm still pretty anxious about this afternoon's meeting - an opportunity for two potentially differing perspectives to be hopefully heard and discussed. It'll be great when it's done cos for a long time I've thought along the lines of "when I know what my finances are like, I might be able to get a new vacuum cleaner" etc (I was given it many many years ago by someone who was upgrading. I have to hold it together in a particular way for it to pick up bits. It's still mainly fine and I won't rush to get a new one. But it will be nice to feel that I can make such choices freely).
Today I hope you too get to see hold lots of seemingly opposing truths and cherish them :D
well the meeting happened. we'll have to have another so we are Not There Yet. but my girly is now being v kind and bringing tissues and a blanket as I recover. I'm very lucky.
ReplyDeleteshe does this. thankyou to all you who also do this - for me and others: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Meditation--Giving-and-Receiving-Consolation.html?soid=1011221485028&aid=EL-6sD4FaSQ
ReplyDelete