WALL-E as a pro-life film
Warning: Some of what may follows includes what might be thought of as spoilers, though I don't think any of them are things that are not found in other reviews. Just consider yourself warned.
So my wife and I went to see Pixar's brilliant new film, WALL-E. Much has been made of the environmental themes found in the movie and the implicit critique of our consumer culture. Those themes, however, are the canvas upon which the larger love story between WALL-E and EVE is told -- and it is a wonderful love story that deals with themes of loneliness, loyalty, commitment, and healing.
And while I don't think it was necessarily the director's intent, I think there are some very interesting pro-life ideas in the movie as well. Part of the plot revolves around EVE's mission to find plant life on an Earth that has been denuded of life. WALL-E has found a little seedling, which is placed into EVE's 'womb', where it sits until the probe ship returns for EVE. In the meantime, WALL-E loyally watches over her in all kinds of weather and adverse circumstances; here I am reminded of the documentary March of the Penguins, with its themes of commitment and sacrifice in the effort to nurture life.
Once WALL-E and EVE are returned back to the human ship other robots attempt to kill the life that EVE has nurtured in her 'womb', with one robot attempting to send it into space and detonate it. Meanwhile WALL-E and EVE do everything in their power to preserve the little seedling which will bring humans back to Earth. Somehow it is these robots, who through their commitment to each other, realize that life is paramount and to be preserved at all costs. This is a decidedly pro-life message.
The other religious theme I found interesting is that of the human expulsion from the Garden of Eden. In this case, humans have to leave the world they have been blessed with due to their own selfishness. As a result, their very nature is corrupted in a way that makes them uncomfortably less than completely human -- they are incapable of standing on their own two feet. It is only through the hope of new life, a resurrection of life if you will, that the humans are restored to their previous world, though one that will now require multiple lifetimes of restorative work and a new learning of what it means to be truly human.
I haven't seen anyone else pick up these themes yet, but these are some of the messages that I think are there to be found. Great movie and I'd recommend it.
So my wife and I went to see Pixar's brilliant new film, WALL-E. Much has been made of the environmental themes found in the movie and the implicit critique of our consumer culture. Those themes, however, are the canvas upon which the larger love story between WALL-E and EVE is told -- and it is a wonderful love story that deals with themes of loneliness, loyalty, commitment, and healing.
And while I don't think it was necessarily the director's intent, I think there are some very interesting pro-life ideas in the movie as well. Part of the plot revolves around EVE's mission to find plant life on an Earth that has been denuded of life. WALL-E has found a little seedling, which is placed into EVE's 'womb', where it sits until the probe ship returns for EVE. In the meantime, WALL-E loyally watches over her in all kinds of weather and adverse circumstances; here I am reminded of the documentary March of the Penguins, with its themes of commitment and sacrifice in the effort to nurture life.
Once WALL-E and EVE are returned back to the human ship other robots attempt to kill the life that EVE has nurtured in her 'womb', with one robot attempting to send it into space and detonate it. Meanwhile WALL-E and EVE do everything in their power to preserve the little seedling which will bring humans back to Earth. Somehow it is these robots, who through their commitment to each other, realize that life is paramount and to be preserved at all costs. This is a decidedly pro-life message.
The other religious theme I found interesting is that of the human expulsion from the Garden of Eden. In this case, humans have to leave the world they have been blessed with due to their own selfishness. As a result, their very nature is corrupted in a way that makes them uncomfortably less than completely human -- they are incapable of standing on their own two feet. It is only through the hope of new life, a resurrection of life if you will, that the humans are restored to their previous world, though one that will now require multiple lifetimes of restorative work and a new learning of what it means to be truly human.
I haven't seen anyone else pick up these themes yet, but these are some of the messages that I think are there to be found. Great movie and I'd recommend it.
posted by Lux Intellectus at 9:18 PM
3 Comments:
Lux,
I couldn't agree more with your assessments. I took my very anxious soon-to-be-four-year-old to see it yesterday afternoon. What a beautiful film. Truly some of Pixar's finest work to date.
Inasmuch as I was anxious about what I anticipated would be a ham-fisted barrage of leftist environmental propaganda about global warming, it was really more a criticism of overconsumption than anything else. I have nothing against being "a good steward of the Earth," I just don't want to be castigated for running my AC or taking the occasional joy ride.
The idea of EVE taking the seedling into her "womb" had occurred to me, though I hadn't made the feathered connection you mentioned. Very nice. Wall-E is nothing if not a nurturing character. He has spent 700 years sifting through society's detritus. How precious would it be, after all that time, to discover the promise of that single, fragile stalk growing out of the ground? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to safeguard that life?
I'm so glad to see someone besides me picked up on the pro-life theme!
I hadn't even thought of the Garden of Eden comparison. Thanks so much!
I am aware that this is a couple of months after this was written, but this is an amazing reflection of the movie and great comments! It really makes sense that something pro-life and about the human responsibility to be stewards would coincide-the two are both directed towards an understanding of the human person created in God's image, meant to bring forth and cultivate life, as we share in our role as co-creators. I think in reality, many people understand the truth of this connection. The only problem is that often, they get separated, even opposed to one another, in politics.
Other things that struck out to me as a beautiful representation of human love rightly ordered were in John and Mary (the human couple that becomes counter cultural). In their relationship, we see a genuine draw towards another, an appreciation of the other as a person. Even something as simple as a small (very respectful) touch is an awareness of the other as a person, as one who is living, breathing, free, and sharing in the human experience.
Indeed, the very question of what the human experience is has been called into question as someone already pointed out the criticism of consumerism. This was a beautiful film that touched on these issues and powerfully witnessed to something more, something beyond. In light of the timing of the release and the political environment, I understand the apprehension some might have that it could be merely propaganda, but it is truly about something deeper.
Post a Comment
<< Home