The Gospel in “The Castle”
An excellent re-warmed observation from Glen
Far and away the best Australian comedy ever made, The Castle is a must-see movie. Brilliantly observed, funny, heart-warming and if you’re not punching the air at the triumphant ending I fear for the state of your soul.
The Kerrigan family are threatened with eviction by a nasty corporation. But ‘a man’s home is his castle’ so they fight it through the courts and… (last second spoiler alert!)… win.
It taps into some deeply felt Australian myths. It’s about home and land – with overt references to aboriginal land rights. It’s about family and mateship and a fair go. Most of all it’s the myth of the little Aussie battler winning through.
Or is it?
...
The Castle’s not about a working class hero who never gave up. This is not the story of one man standing against the powers that be – much as we love that myth. It’s about the powerful one stepping down for the weak. It’s the strong advocate who graciously intercedes.
Therefore – two things. 1) Go and see The Castle if you haven’t already!
And 2) realise this: You are not the determined little guy who’ll make good in the end. You’re facing trial – powerless and guilty. But you have a brilliant Advocate. He says, “I’d like to appear on your behalf – gratis!” And He makes faultless representation to the court of heaven. You stand in Him completely vindicated. What kind of Advocate is this!
24 Because Jesus lives for ever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (Heb 7:24-26)
19 Even now my Witness is in heaven; my Advocate is on high. 20 My Intercessor is my Friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man He pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. (Job 16:19-21)
Excellent illustrative material there.
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4 comments
Definitely going to add this to my Netflix queue, thanks for the recommendation.
Another underrated Australian movie staring Eric Bana with interesting Christian undertones is _Romulus, My Father_.
[1] Posted by The Plantagenets on 6-15-2012 at 02:01 AM · [top]
First of all, let me agree with point #1: “The Castle” is a very entertaining movie. It got me laughing even while sitting in the middle seat of a long flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai! I’m not sure I’d agree that the condescension of the Queen’s Counsel character is the main theme of the movie, but rather the child-like “simplicity” of the father toward the system, toward his family and to all whom he meets.
I saw a second equally laugh-inducing movie on that same flight, “Little Miss Sunshine.” It seems to me it has a similar theme to The Castle, this time the child-like simplicity of 7-year old Olive Hoover, who unites all the members of her very dysfunctional family. Never mind the empty grave-cloth at the end of the movie, I think it is primarily a commentary on human nature.
[2] Posted by Stephen Noll on 6-16-2012 at 09:19 AM · [top]
“What’s that love”?
“Spongecake darl”
Brilliant movie.
Oh the serenity!
[3] Posted by Josh Bovis on 6-17-2012 at 01:10 AM · [top]
Tell him he’s dreaming
[4] Posted by MichaelA on 6-17-2012 at 06:58 PM · [top]
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