“O Brother, Where Art Thou” isn’t necessarily a “Christian” movie, nor does it claim to be; however, I believe that it serves as a model for an artistic, high-quality, faith-themed film that sets a standard for the evolving Christian film industry. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” is commonly considered to be a loose telling of the classic literary work “The Odyssey.” This rendition, however, abandons the use of ancient Greek gods and instead places the main characters in the heart of the American South. The three men, escaped convicts, embark on a search for a treasure, with the lead character Everett seeking to win back the heart of his wife who has decided to marry another man during the course of Everett’s incarceration. Everett (George Clooney), a suave yet self-absorbed individual, is the leader of the threesome. His two dimwitted comrades, the ill-tempered Pete (John Turturro) and kind-hearted Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson), both add unique and humorous presences to the film. The movie follows their journey across the Missouri countryside as they evade the police and interact with a number of memorable characters. From an artistic standpoint, “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” directed by the creative Coen brothers, is a unique and engaging film. The acting, pacing, and script are delightful. The color palette of the film remains consistent throughout and adds to the story to serve as a reminder to the audience of the time period in which the film takes place. The music, though, remains as the preeminent memorable artistic quality. The soundtrack, consisting mostly of folk songs characteristic of the Depression era, is seamlessly interwoven into the story. Unlike many classic musicals where the musical numbers are often abrupt and interrupt the story, the Coen brothers manage to integrate the music so that each song occurs organically and serves to draw you into the story. One of the most fascinating aspects of the film to me was the treatment of God, faith, and religion. As a Christian who remains frustrated with the current state of the “Christian movie industry,” which has produced films such as “God’s Not Dead” and “Fireproof,” I’m not used to seeing my faith well-represented in the medium. Christian films are generally preachy, often at the expense of a good story, well-developed characters, talented actors, creative cinematography, and the like. In my experience, I’ve found that Christian filmmakers often make a film based on a message that they want to communicate instead of merely endeavoring to tell a good story. Because of this, Christian films often feel more like propaganda pieces than works of art, and they end up just “preaching to the choir.” I’m a Christian who has grown up in a conservative Christian household, so naturally I’ve been exposed to a lot of Christian films, many of which are poorly made. Perhaps that’s why I was so (pleasantly!) surprised to see how well the Coen brothers integrated themes of faith into their film. While the film is most definitely an allegory for “The Odyssey,” it also serves as an allegory for the spiritual journey of an individual, or in this case, individuals. Pete and Delmar undergo similar character arcs during the film. Delmar is the first to undergo a spiritual transformation, which is initiated by his baptism surrounded by a choir of converts singing a strangely beautiful rendition of “Down to the River to Pray.” Pete quickly follows suit, much to the chagrin of a skeptical Everett. Their conversion plays a recurring part in the script during the rest of the story. Throughout the story, the three men are being chased down by a ruthless sheriff, whose character serves as a representation of the devil. During the climax of the film, he catches up with them and is preparing to hang them all to satisfy his relentless pursuit of self-determined justice. Everett, the only one of the three who has yet to “make his peace with God,” delivers a touching soliloquy in which he prays to God for mercy and salvation. Unlike many of the Christian films formerly mentioned, Everett’s prayer doesn’t feel forced or removed from the context of the movie. As we’ve seen his character develop over the course of the film, we understand that his prayer is the natural response of his character, albeit a response driven by fear rather than a sincere change of heart. There is an important event in the film that occurs as a result of either science or divine intervention (although it could be argued that both are simultaneously true), yet the film never directly answers that question for the audience. In fact, we see that the main characters represent two responses to the question of the reality of a divine being: Everett, having recently cried to God for mercy and salvation, reverts back to his skeptical nature after the danger of eminent death has been temporarily avoided while Pete and Delmar maintain that God Himself was responsible for the seemingly miraculous event. In this aspect, the film succeeded. It honored the intellectual capabilities of its audience and left one of the important messages of the film open to interpretation. This helps to initiate thought and dialogue about some important issues, further revealing the power of a good story to spark conversation. This is why I believe that “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” should be a lesson for Christian filmmakers. The Coen brothers started out with a story (not a message) that they wanted to communicate, and they let any potential moral or spiritual themes happen organically. They practically created a “Christian” film, but they simultaneously created a film that has the potential to be enjoyed by nearly everyone from a wide variety of backgrounds and belief systems. That’s a really cool thing, and one I wish that today’s Christian filmmakers would consider. “O Brother, Where Art Thou” is a beautiful, quirky, and comical film that tells a good story in a unique and engaging way. It uses music to draw in its audience, and it's supported by an assortment of eccentric characters played by a talented cast. I highly recommend it. For a detailed review of this film (rated PG-13), check out the following link: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/o-brother-where-art-thou
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