Metro Jacksonville

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6173399/Charles-Darwin-film-too-controversial-for-religious-America.html

(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01479/creation_1479638c.jpg)

Creation, starring Paul Bettany, details Darwin's "struggle between faith and reason" as he wrote On The Origin of Species. It depicts him as a man who loses faith in God following the death of his beloved 10-year-old daughter, Annie.

The film was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has its British premiere on Sunday. It has been sold in almost every territory around the world, from Australia to Scandinavia.

However, US distributors have resolutely passed on a film which will prove hugely divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February, only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.

Movieguide.org, an influential site which reviews films from a Christian perspective, described Darwin as the father of eugenics and denounced him as "a racist, a bigot and an 1800s naturalist whose legacy is mass murder". His "half-baked theory" directly influenced Adolf Hitler and led to "atrocities, crimes against humanity, cloning and genetic engineering", the site stated.

The film has sparked fierce debate on US Christian websites, with a typical comment dismissing evolution as "a silly theory with a serious lack of evidence to support it despite over a century of trying".

Jeremy Thomas, the Oscar-winning producer of Creation, said he was astonished that such attitudes exist 150 years after On The Origin of Species was published.

"That's what we're up against. In 2009. It's amazing," he said.

"The film has no distributor in America. It has got a deal everywhere else in the world but in the US, and it's because of what the film is about. People have been saying this is the best film they've seen all year, yet nobody in the US has picked it up.

"It is unbelievable to us that this is still a really hot potato in America. There's still a great belief that He made the world in six days. It's quite difficult for we in the UK to imagine religion in America. We live in a country which is no longer so religious. But in the US, outside of New York and LA, religion rules.

"Charles Darwin is, I suppose, the hero of the film. But we tried to make the film in a very even-handed way. Darwin wasn't saying 'kill all religion', he never said such a thing, but he is a totem for people."

Creation was developed by BBC Films and the UK Film Council, and stars Bettany's real-life wife Jennifer Connelly as Darwin's deeply religious wife, Emma. It is based on the book, Annie's Box, by Darwin's great-great-grandson, Randal Keynes, and portrays the naturalist as a family man tormented by the death in 1851 of Annie, his favourite child. She is played in the film by 10-year-old newcomer Martha West, the daughter of The Wire star Dominic West.

Early reviews have raved about the film. The Hollywood Reporter said: "It would be a great shame if those with religious convictions spurned the film out of hand as they will find it even-handed and wise."

Mr Thomas, whose previous films include The Last Emperor and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, said he hoped the reviews would help to secure a distributor. In the UK, special screenings have been set up for Christian groups.

Gotta love those crazy religious people.

Quote from: reednavy on September 13, 2009, 01:55:55 PM
Gotta love those crazy religious people.

Glad I'm not religious.  Religion is and was made by mankind and is "man made." Religion is also the apex and foundation of most of the world's problems.  But I do believe in God and His Son.  There's a difference believe me.

Heights Unknown

Maybe we should not blame the schools for the fact that American students trail everybody including Albania in math and science test scores.  Ignorance is excusable and correctable.  Deliberate stupidity should be punishable.....oh, yeah, it brings its own "reward" doesn't it.

Sometimes I feel like the severe dichotomy of religious and non-religious in this country causes us to have more intolerance and hate than in other places in the world.  Religion is used as an excuse for hatred in the US more than anything else.  Think of what would have happened if non-religious groups would have tried to block The Passion of the Christ when it came out.  Why were distributors so quick to pick that up but not something as equally controversial as Creation?  I do feel like slowly people in this country are waking up, but we are far behind the rest of the world in our tolerance for anything considered "other."

Gee whiz, I would almost think most of you guys are not religious.  This isn't a confrontation between "religious people" (crazy or not) and a film maker.  Any distributor can pick up this film.  Anti-Christian themes are no problem for movie distributors in this country.  Do I need to list them?  More likely I think that this BBC "blockbuster" just isn't expected to sell many tickets in America.  We are more of a "Transformers" kind of place.  Christians as a rule don't fear the scientific advancement of truth.  Truth is just that, the Truth.  To a Christian, that truth is made up of the the Holy Trinity and His creation.  For others, it may be made up of the language of mathematics.  What Christians fear is the use of "science" to forward political or societal goals.  That has been done throughout history by Christians and non-Christians alike.  I am sure we agree that we don't want that to happen, right?

What would Michael Moore have to say about this? Something very blow-hard esque I am guessing.

I also have to say....do you really think that our failing schools are because of "religion"?  Really?  Could someone explain that to me? "Religion" is the enemy of math and science now?  Weren't our schools top notch when this country was MUCH more religiously observant?   And that "religion" causes more hate in this country than ANYTHING else?  How many of the murders in Jax last year were driven by "religion"?  What is with this "demonizing" of religion?  Or is it just Christianity?  Are Muslims, Buddist, and other religions also the enemy of education and peace?  

BS - " I do feel like slowly people in this country are waking up, but we are far behind the rest of the world in our tolerance for anything considered "other."

Are you aware that there are countries in the world where Christians are executed for converting inhabitants?   Countries where Christians are beaten and arrested for practicing their religion?   Do you REALLY believe that the USA is "far behind the rest of the world in our tolerance"?   If you think this is true, you need to get out to some other countries.  I would argue that the USA is one of the MOST tolerant countries in the world.  I am saddened that I would have to list examples of the benevolence and tolerance of our great nation, but if you are really not aware, say so and I will attempt to do so.

So you believe that ALL of the worlds religions are a detriment to society?  That ALL religions inhibit education and promote HATE more than ANYTHING else?

So you think "women" are the cause of our failing schools?  :) :)

"Religious women"?

"Muslim religious women"?

Quote from: stephendare on September 13, 2009, 10:20:45 PM

Quote from: DavidWilliams on September 13, 2009, 10:15:56 PM
What would Michael Moore have to say about this? Something very blow-hard esque I am guessing.

like the quoted statement?

My point exactly, SD.

"Crazy right wing Muslim religious women"?

:)

I agree with the above to a degree. Theology and science need not be mutually exclusive.

Darwin is not a diety. His theories are useful in understanding our "origins".

*see what I did there?*

I think our public schools are terrible.  I think that the problem is mostly a lack of discipline, mostly with the educators themselves.  I think the cracker box education PhD's that have developed in the last forty years have been a HUGE detriment to education.  If educators returned to the basics in primary education and created an atmosphere of learning, intolerant of disruptive or distracting behavior, our public schools would improve greatly. We don't need high rise buildings of school administrators coming up with "modern systems" of education. We should offer knowledge and expect our children to respect the educational institution and those that serve in it.  Remove those that do not.  

We used to undervalue many valuable minds because of their sex, race, or disability.  We have grown past that and gained mightily in the process.  Many, if not most of the rest of the world still clings to those old ways.  Just more proof of the goodness of our nation in my opinion.  

More things than just "religion" have had a mixed effect on education.  How about politics, race, sex?  Religion is just one, and not the major influence on education.  (Hint:  starts with a T and ends with a V)

I don't think that "fear of protests" are keeping this film from distribution in this country.  "Religious" people (of course, we know we are really talking about Christians here) are the most scoffed at in our society.  I just don't think that distributors believe there is enough money to be made.

I am having a little trouble squaring the above consternation with this article though:

http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/film-makers-actors-and-activists-boycott-toronto-international-film-festival-for-tel-aviv-spotlight/

Film makers, Actors, and Activists Protest Toronto Film Fest For Tel Aviv Spotlight
Middle East | Posted by: Zahir Janmohamed, September 10, 2009 at 12:56 PM
The 2009 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has received a lot of attention this week after over 50 film makers, actors, academics, and activists signed and released a statement called the “Toronto Declaration: No Celebration of Occupation”. The 2009 festival chose to highlight Tel Aviv with 10 films by local filmmakers for its City to City Program and this prompted the protests because the individuals felt that “TIFF, whether intentionally or not, has become complicit in the Israeli propaganda machine.” The Jerusalem Post reported that some of the various individuals who signed the statement include American Actors Jane Fonda and Danny Glover, musician David Byrne, film-maker Ken Loach, and authors Naomi Klein and Howard Zinn.


The open letter to the TIFF highlighted several reasons for the withdrawal from the festival. One reason was because that the festival was celebrating Tel Aviv as a city of diversity while Palestinian film-makers were absent from the program. Furthermore, the history of the city, which includes the struggles of Palestinian people is excluded and is also indirectly being celebrated through this spotlight.

“The emphasis on ‘diversity’ in City to City is empty given the absence of Palestinian filmmakers in the program. Furthermore, what this description does not say is that Tel Aviv is built on destroyed Palestinian villages, and that the city of Jaffa, Palestine’s main cultural hub until 1948, was annexed to Tel Aviv after the mass exiling of the Palestinian population. This program ignores the suffering of thousands of former residents and descendants of the Tel Aviv/Jaffa area who currently live in refugee camps in the Occupied Territories or who have been dispersed to other countries, including Canada.”

The letter also included another dimension of critcism against Israel by drawing parallels between Apartheid South Africa and Israel at times.

“Looking at modern, sophisticated Tel Aviv without also considering the city’s past and the realities of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza strip, would be like rhapsodizing about the beauty and elegant lifestyles in white-only Cape Town or Johannesburg during apartheid without acknowledging the corresponding black townships of Khayelitsha and Soweto.”

“However, especially in the wake of this year’s brutal assault on Gaza, we object to the use of such an important international festival in staging a propaganda campaign on behalf of what South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and UN General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann have all characterized as an apartheid regime.”

The protest began originally with film-maker John Greyson from Canada who withdrew his documentary “Covered”, which is about the violence in Bosnia-Herzengovina that shut down the 2008 Sarajevo Queer Festival, the Washington Times reported. In a later email Greyson added that,

“We’re not protesting the Israeli films or the filmmakers our target is TIFF’s Spotlight on Tel Aviv itself, and specifically its connections to the ‘Brand Israel’ campaign and the Israeli Consulate, which make the spotlight look and feel like a propaganda exercise. As filmmakers and audiences, we’re telling TIFF that eight months since the Gaza massacre, this is no time to be uncritically ‘celebrating’ Tel Aviv”

Critics of the protest have also spoken out in favor of the festival and Israel. Rabbi Marvin Hier was critical of those who signed the letter and was reported by TMZ as saying that “Whoever would sign on to a campaign like this would support the complete destruction of Israel.” Jane Fonda replied to the accusations with a statement issued saying,

“I, in no way, support the destruction of Israel. I am for the two-state solution. I have been to Israel many times and love the country and its people.”

The director of the TIFF, Richard Moore also spoke out and called this protest an effort to censor the films and the festival saying that, “Loach’s demands were beyond the pale. As a supporter of independent film and filmmaking he should be ashamed of himself.”

Even amidst criticism, Loach, O’Brien, and Laverty and many others have defended their decision to withdraw from the festival and encouraged others to take part in the greater international Boycott and Divestment Campaign any way that they could.

“On this site last week, Neve Gordon, a Jewish political professor teaching in an Israeli university argued: “The most accurate way to describe Israel today is an apartheid state.” As a result he too is supporting the international campaign of divestment and boycott. We feel duty bound to take advice from those living at the sharp end inside the occupied territories. We would also encourage other film-makers and actors invited to festivals to check for Israeli state backing before attending, and if so, to respect the boycott. Israeli film-makers are not the target. State involvement is. In the grand scale of things it is a tiny contribution to a growing movement, but the example of South Africa should give us heart.”

Amnesty International has taken no position on cultural or other boycotts anywhere in the world, though it does advocate sanctions in certain circumstances, as when it calls for embargoes on arms supplies to states or other parties in a conflict where such could be used to attack civilians. Earlier this year AI called for an arms embargo against both Israel and armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas, in light of evidence of war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law during the December 2008-January 2009 conflict in Gaza.

There will come a time, when Darwinism and Christianity will meet in a head on collision, there may be bloodshed, but in the end Christ will heal the wounds. Darwinism is a far stretch, it is only a "theory" and since when are "Theory's" fact? Frankly, in any university I have ever attended, they are NOT fact, merely theory's.

Evolution is based on a theory that in all of the cosmos, infinity, somehow, some elements just happened to gather and in the right conditions formed LIFE. If you buy this then the next step is that this same life then expanded into countless species of animals and humans. (after our Monkey school).

What if we go Darwin one better and take a classic Rolex Watch? We'll take it appart and put all 30 pieces into a small container. Next we'll have our space shuttle crew toss it out into space doing an eternal end over end... You tell me, how long until it becomes a Rolex Watch again? Hey we didn't even need to "create" the parts! Your getting a big head start... Just tell me how long?

Sorry guys, I may be the old hippie, but a day is coming when every knee shall bow and tongue confess!  

OCKLAWAHA

The immensness of the unknown is unknowable to man.

Would it be possible for a film festival/independent movie theater to have it imported from the U.K.?  There's definitely a market for a film like that here, a small one, but still.

I would like to know which films were not distributed in the US because of religious sensibilities last year.

This is called marketing. The producers are trying to get people riled up and it's working. Nothing's stopping this movie from coming here and when it does, a lot more people are going to go and see it because they were smart enough to capitalize on controversy. This is no different than last years ad campaign of The Happening being "M. Night Shamalamadingdong's 1st R-rated movie" and what a turd that turned out to be. If it had been straight up limited release, no one would have even noticed and the fact that the makers are putting on this whole spectacle cheapens what might've been a good film otherwise, so nice going.

Quote from: thekillingwax on September 15, 2009, 01:09:07 AM
This is called marketing. The producers are trying to get people riled up and it's working. Nothing's stopping this movie from coming here and when it does, a lot more people are going to go and see it because they were smart enough to capitalize on controversy. This is no different than last years ad campaign of The Happening being "M. Night Shamalamadingdong's 1st R-rated movie" and what a turd that turned out to be. If it had been straight up limited release, no one would have even noticed and the fact that the makers are putting on this whole spectacle cheapens what might've been a good film otherwise, so nice going.

*DING!*