|
|
|
|
| Select
a Category: HOME | MOVIE REVIEWS | 4 STAR REVIEWS | TRAILERS ABOUT US | CONTACT US | LINKS | PUBLISHING PERMISSION |
|
|
|
THIS CHRISTMAS 4 Stars – Encouraging Our relationships within our families are complex. We are not only stuck with the family into
which
we
were
born,
and
we
are
not
only
formed
by
our
place
within
that
family
system,
but
we
are
also
privileged
to
have
a
group
of
people
who
accept
us
and
love
us
as
we
are.
In
families
where
honesty
and
unconditional
love
are
present
there
is
a
healing
power
at
work
in
our
lives.
That
is
the
message
of
writer
and
director
Preston
A.
Whitmore’s
film
on
a
family’s
reunion
at
Christmas
entitled
“This
Christmas.” Similar to “Mi Familia” in which we walk with an Hispanic family
through
a
lifetime
of
joys
and
sorrows
as
they
live
in
East
Los
Angeles,
this
film
allows
us
to
enter
into
an
African-American
family
as
they
experience
the
successes,
disappointments
and
pressures
of
living
the
American
Dream. With a daughter who graduated from Harvard
and
a
son
who
graduated
from
Princeton,
they
question
a
new
boyfriend
of
their
younger
sister
for
having
chosen
the
all-black,
all-male
Morehouse
College,
the
alma
mater
of
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.
His
answer
gives
insight
into
the
unique
experience
and
values
of
African-Americans
who
do
not
want
to
compromise
to
be
a
part
of
the
mainstream. Using the setting of a holiday in which to explore the history
and
relationships
of
the
Whitfield
family,
we
realize
that
this
is
a
family
with
a
troubled
past,
a
spiritual
center
and
an
accepting
bond. The intuitive matriarch of the clan has the
affectionate
name
Ma’Dere
(Loretta
Devine).
Ma’Dere
has
six
grown
children
with
the
youngest
nicknamed
“Baby,”
Michael
“Baby”
Whitfield
(Chris
Brown)
still
lives
at
home
in
a
huge
house
with
plenty
of
bedrooms.
Also
present
in
the
home
is
Ma’Dere’s
long-time
boyfriend
Joseph
Black
(Delroy
Lindo)
whose
prayer
at
the
dinner
table
is
one
of
the
most
authentic
Christian
prayers
presented
in
any
film. A Deacon at their church, Joe Black is a man of patience as
shown
by
his
faithful
love
for
this
woman
who
is
not
free
internally
or
familially
to
marry
him.
The
reason
is
a
core
issue
within
the
family.
Years
ago,
the
love
of
Ma’Dere’s
life
and
the
father
of
her
children
left
her
to
pursue
his
passion
of
music.
This
abandonment
has
left
a
hole
in
her
heart
and
a
scar
on
her
soul
such
that
she
forbids
her
children
to
explore
their
own
musical
talents. Though different in every family, there is often a deep wound
within
a
parent
that
becomes
a
taboo
or,
at
the
other
extreme,
a
requirement
in
the
lives
of
their
children.
As
such
a
wound
bleeds
through
the
veins
of
their
family,
the
struggle
to
find
their
own
life
becomes
a
conflicted
though
necessary
task.
For
some,
it
impacts
their
own
marriages,
for
others
it
shapes
their
choices
of
careers
and
for
still
others,
it
impairs
their
respect
for
authority. But in all of them there is healing needed. It is no coincidence that the final healing
of
the
film
occurs
within
the
Christmas
Day
worship
service
of
their
church
as
grace
and
courage
join
in
a
celebration
of
new
life
both
for
individuals
and
the
family
as
a
whole. “This Christmas” is a compelling tale of family life in which
most
of
us
can
identify
our
own
lives.
It
is
an
adult
story
for
families
to
discuss
together
this
Christmas.
Discussion:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| Select
a Category: HOME | MOVIE REVIEWS | 4 STAR REVIEWS | TRAILERS ABOUT US | CONTACT US | LINKS | PUBLISHING PERMISSION |
|
|
© 2000-2007 Cinema In Focus
