personal legends or myths? The Alchemist: a review

I should have reviewed this book whilst it was the new thing. Paul Coelho has been popular, if not influential, to say the least.

Coelho uses the simple journey for the treasure of a Spanish shepherd boy to bring to consciousness many general comments on the purpose of life. It is a sweet tale of a very innocent boy, just seeking his personal treasure. He starts with little but his flock, within his familiar country side of Spain. Through angelic and mystical encounters, twists of fate, so called "omens", and of course a personal desire and sheer belief to seek "treasure", the boy is led across the seas and deserts towards Egypt, the place of where his treasure was to be revealed. The final revelation leads him back home ironically, where his treasure had been all long, buried within his own memory and previous journeys as a shepherd. In sum, the Boy simply fulfills his Personal Legend as he responds with belief in the guidance of the Soul of the World.

Along the journey, there are significant characters that help the Boy. Firstly, the angelic character in Melchizedek, who first opens the Boy to the possibility of finding his treasure and prepares him with guiding words and tools to recognise favourable omens and answer questions by lots - the stones "Urim and Thummim". There are many helpers along the way: the gypsy who entices him toward seeking the treasure, the crystal dealer near the port who sustains the Boy physically and allows him to eventually sail toward Egypt, the Englishman who seeks the secrets to Alchemy and so leads the Boy to recognition of the Alchemist. The Boy also forms an emotional and spiritual bond with a girl in the desert plains, who is at once a distraction from his self-fulfilment as well as the source of his desire for that elusive treasure. Finally, it is the Alchemist who finishes off the education of the Boy in understanding the universal code of the world, called the language of the Soul of the World. It is with this understanding, Enlightenment for want of a better word, that the Boy is able to overcome his near-death obstacle at the hands of desert marauders, and successfully arrive at Egypt.

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I will choose only two major ideas to question. The first being the quest to fulfill one's personal legend. The second will be the idea of love alongside this calling. Though Coelho never admits to providing any ultimate answers to the purpose of life, the book does draw some conclusions to just what shape the fulfilled life looks.

Everyone seems to have a personal legend and the whole force of the universe, which is unnamed, impersonal but definitely powerful, is there to help everyone fulfill it. All we need is that extra self-belief and belief in this Soul of the World to the extent that it wills what we will. There is a fantastic scene where the Boy communicates with the Soul of the World after understanding the secrets of Alchemy, and it yields to the sheer desire and passion of the Boy for his goal. There may be an autobiographical element, or just very hopeful observations of our world.

Yet I do not think this translates very usefully into everyday living and certainly not for those in relation with the God of the Bible. The narrative of the Bible presents our lives as certainly integral parts of God's purposes in general. Yet the particular fulfillment of God's purpose lies in Jesus, coming to the world, revealing to the world the nature of God, rescuing the world in reconciliation to God Himself by His death for the fallen world and rising to life as the Ruler and Holder of all authority. Personal fulfillment come by being a part of God's grand plan, and not so much through our individual aspirations. Being a Christian means both losing the self and gaining more than what we can imagine. We lose the self-will to ruthlessly and selfishly achieve our own goals (see the call to discipleship in Mark 10:23-31), but in fact gain so much more from being in fellowship or one with Jesus, in His plans, goals and His community, which is God Himself. The Boy's treasure is really peas and pods compared to God Himself, who is the treasure promised to every disciple of Jesus, in submission to His plans and purposes. Further more Jesus Himself displayed this losing of Himself by deferring His own comforts and protection for the sake of others - the world - in need and He was duly rewarded by God the Father by His vindication at the Resurrection. God of History, not an impersonal Soul of the World, has shown His willingness to call people into such a relation with Him.

Where does love fit into peoples' plans and purposes? The Boy finds it, but must defer this to the pursuit of his personal legend; he is bound to reunite with his love, waiting for his return in the desert until the end. It ends happily and romantically. Perhaps for the sake of the story, the author had to prioritise the events. Yet if taken seriously, the personal legend seems to trump any other thing in the world, include marital happiness, relationship and people. We can leave even God out of the picture in thinking about this and just see how this happy ending is mere fiction. We know that people, relationships and most of all care for loved loves is costly. In daily terms it may be the constant effort, discomfort, hard work for the sake of loved ones. Those who have really loved will know what cost it is. Bringing God back into the picture, He does not seek love in this fashion, firstly He is satisfied, secondly He pours out His love, by the giving of Himself, even to the loss of His own Son. There is no greater price God could have paid in order to win the attention as well as salvation of his enemies. Christians are likewise called to suffer for the sake of love in this sense, not strictly love romantically. Love for the world, as God has loved, is worthy of our lives, time and even the loss of self once again. And this love is realised when we speak of God's love in action through the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

A lot of people have been influenced by the novel. I do not mind it as fiction. But the best fiction can recreate and teach reality, not just providing false hopes for a generation that is in need of something real and substantial. For The Alchemist to be really inspirational, the Christian has to translate an impersonal and selfish force of the world into a personal, loving and selfless God.

Chaos still needs Light: The Dark Knight, a review.

(image: wallpaper downloads @http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/)

C. S. Lewis had said that it is easier to portray evil than good in art. I think the Dark Knight is another prime example of this trend. I know that many had seen the film because of the tragic death of Heath Ledger, and many would have been moved by how sinister his character was in this film. Chaos gained a face, as well as sadism, in this dark film.

There isn't too much to spoil by reading a review on the film, for we can easily guess the general direction of the characters' developments, their origins and their destinations. From "Batman Begins", we already know the love-hate relationship Bruce Wayne has with his alter-ego "The Batman". He yearns for normality and time for love with Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). The film introduces Harvey Dent/Two-face (Aaron Eckhart) and Joker, and it spends much time in explaining how these two characters become respectively bitter to goodness and sweet-toothed for evil.

The former disillusioned District Attorney of Gotham in Dent attains villain status because of personal suffering and loss. In the course of the Joker's plot to draw out and kill Batman, Harvey loses Rachel, his fiancee to the Joker's wicked designs. You see, the Joker gives Gotham city and the Batman a choice, to either choose to save either the honest, innocent and passionate District Attorney, Dent, with a history of successful prosecutions of the underworld bosses or an equally innocent, hard working and beautiful Lawyer, Dawes. The Batman and police choose to primarily save Dent, because of his capacity for doing greater good for Gotham, and as a result, just fails to rescue Dawes from a fatal explosion. This eventually leads to the conversion of the passionate crime fighter in Dent into a selfish avenger of personal loss that is Two-Face.

He is a helpful reminder, even as Christians, of just how weak even the moral and upright human being is in the face of deep personal suffering. Anger, bitterness but an irrational hatred of what is good can come out of undealt suffering. What if undeserved injustice befall on a great person, such as the archetypal Job? Would that man then shove his fists at God and let loose all his anger and blame God, others and in effect the whole world? Anyone without an understanding of where evil in this world comes from and who is responsible for evil, may act just as foolishly as Dent. But one who knows the God who is good and saves the right moment in history for the judgement of all wickedness will have true comfort and hope. There is also the aspect of God's transcendence as Creator over Creatures, that prevents us from ever rightfully demanding answers from God because of the order of beings and our limited understanding (see Job 38). Humility in the face of a awesome Creator is required.

The Joker's sadistic past is the direct cause of his evil nature. The film suggestively recreates the horrible abuse this man suffered, both as a child and as an adult, at the hands of his violent father and later by his own hands when he faces hardship in marriage and living in general. The scars on his face were brutally imprinted and stand for a deeply wounded soul, who now delights in evil and corruption of all that is good. He is like Satan portrayed biblically in this sense. The film of course gives Satan/Joker more degree of freedom and power than that is permitted by the Bible. There is also some element of pity the audience feels with respect to the Joker given his past; but the Bible does not give such pity to Satan, who is given angelic powers but desires God-like power that is not rightfully his. But both essentially point out the fear that the Joker/Satan can instill in people. This fear leads to much chaos and social nasties in the film (such as mob in/justice at the whim of the Joker's plot to blow up public hospitals for the price of certain public figures). Manipulation, enticement and threats to personal safety are the powers of the Joker, who wields control even over the lords of crime in Gotham.

We must be wary of giving evil too much limelight and 'power' for that is not how the Bible portrays our world. Yes we are fallen, and yes, we cannot even trust man, who is evil in heart and mind, hands and lips. The film finds some triumph in the general goodness of the most of mankind: when the Joker forces two boat-loads of people to play in a game of choice - that is the first boat to trigger the bomb on the other preserves itself - both boats decide not to pull the trigger and awaits their own destruction at the hand of the Joker. It is a lighter moment in the film. But this goodness or triumph of man is not the Biblical reason for hope over evil. In fact, Satan is in awe and dreaful fear of the Righteous Judge and Creator of the Universe. God's benign power, complete sovereignty and promise to crush evil, is the Biblical hope. We see this in the person of Jesus, who dies for evil man in substitution, and we see the full force of God's wrath on His Son on account of the sin laid on Him. The coming Judgement is not far and those not atoned for by Jesus' death will face the penlty ofr their own evil ways. All judgement has also been promised to Jesus, who is now victorious over death from sin. (See 1Cor. 15). Evil agents bow to the commands of God, who is untainted by evil; they are only permitted to act and misbehave, and this for a short while. The purpose of evil is difficult to comprehend, but here I trust in God's wisdom as Job has taught us. The Joker may enjoy being beaten to pulps by Batman; Satan squirms at the voice of God and pleads for lesser judgement. Even in the imagination of evil, "The Dark Knight" departs from truth into fiction.

There is much more to the problem of evil raised by the film. How can one truly cope with personal suffering at the hands of evil people? Where is God in this? What is man supposed to do in the face of crimes and wickedness in this world? Who should perform the acts of justice and punishment? How far can people go in the fight against evil, that with what means? Should the greater good be sacrificed or upheld if the disposal of one menial innocent party is required? Is the nature of man basically good and evil just a marring of this nature by an intrinsically evil world (say would the Joker have been if he was raised by a loving dad)?

You won't find many answers in the film that are satisfying, but the questions are intriguing. So are the action scenes, the cinematics of heights, depths and sounds. The Batman offers a likeable human model of imperfect yet personal agent of justice, and he is stylish. I was just glad that chaos still needs the light, for the Joker has no other purpose than to destroy what is good, he depends on some order even within the dark hierarchy of his company and most of all in the society he seeks to wreck. There is no meaning in evil itself, no end, no "good" - to state the obvious. Pure power just does not seem satisfying to my senses, and still forms an irrational basis for the existence of the Joker/Satan. I was glad for reality when the film was over, because we know that in Jesus, there is true Light, who has overcome the Darkness, and this Darkness has not overcome it (John 1:1-14).

The best film I saw overall this year. 4/5.

Kung Fu Panda: "The Secret is... Nothing?"

"I'm so happy my son has finally had a noodle dream!!!" cried Po's dad. It was every noodle shop owner's dream, to be able to pass his life secrets and treasures over to a wayward son. Not that the Kung Fu Panda, Po, was a particularly spoilt profligate, but this overweight, Kung-Fu comic fanatic had his heart set on something other than making noodles. He loves Kung Fu. Kung Fu is his personal dream. Those viewers from an Asian background may relate to the force of paternal aspiration more than some.

This Disney story continues to trace the fateful journey this unlikely hero toward Kung-Fu mastery. The mould does not quite fit the usual "fulfillment of destiny" model we have seen in Zimba of the Lion King or "fulfillment of potential" model that we see in Cars for example. Po is truly pathetic. He is a no-hoper. He had neither destiny or potential for Kung-Fu mastery. But he's a sweet panda, who loves his food and just a little lacking in self-belief and confidence. This self-belief is where Kung-Fu panda can strike a chord with many story tellers and audience. We need a little more of the story to flesh out this message of KFP.

There is a lurking evil over this region in Animal China [my description of the location]. The citizens of hares and pigs enjoy freedom, but they do not realise that a Kung-Fu monster [the Snow Leopard] called Tai-Lung is still alive, although imprisoned. Tai is pure power and hate. To enjoy the ongoing prosperity and peace of this China, there needs to be the succession of the "Dragon Warrior", a beneficent and equally powerful Master of Kung-Fu. The ageing Kung-Fu master Oogway [the 1000 year old Turtle], and Shifu [the Racoon] are both trusting Fate to choose the next Dragon Warrior at the Kung-Fu contest. Just at the appointed time of this Kung Fu contest, Oogway accidentally but ceremoniously elects Po as the Dragon Warrior. How? Po lands in front of the winner of the contest, Tigress, after lighting off many fireworks stuffed to his pants in order to get inside the contest arena. But the deed is done, Oogway had declared the Dragon Warrior by the pointing of his staff, and Po is it. He is fated to become the Dragon Warrior. This is similar to what we know as Fate. It appears wrong and hopeless, but Oogway the master-sage believes in Fate.

Po does indeed discover the "Secret" to Kung-Fu mastery. Shifu begins by tapping into the inner psyche of Po - food as his source of strength and hope - and uses dumplings as the reward for harsh training. There are hilarious scenes of Po mastering chopstick battles, treacherous jumps and superpanda climbs and elaborate duels for the sake of dumplings. The key to Po's mastery, is the idea of self-belief and what the self can achieve now. There are three integral scenes to Kung-Fu Panda that support this theory. The first happens under the Tree of Sacred Wisdom. Oogway says "that yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." Po realizes he needs to seize the moment and make the most of it, because whether he believes in himself yet, he IS the Dragon Warrior. The second happens when Shifu hands over the scroll containing the highest Secrets of Kung-Fu mastery. But to both Shifu and Po's surprise, the scroll is just an empty parchment. We see a little of Eastern philosophy meeting Western anime. Enlightenment is a certain truth for us westerners in the past, but for the East, Enlightenment simply IS, and is literally nothing. "Nothing" IS the secret answer to Po's question and desire to Kung-Fu mastery.

This answer doesn't satisfy Po yet. It requires a final third scene of revelation, just prior to the epic battle between Po and Tai-Lung, now freed and wreaking havoc on Animal China at will. Po meets his father and has a heart-to-heart chat about the Secret Ingredient to tasty noodles. Po's father reveals that the secret is "Nothing". Again there is no certain truth to tasty noodles. What Po gathers from these three moments is that indeed he needs no truth in order to attain mastery, enlightenment and his dream. Nothing is the Secret. Po then, like the Post-God Western Philosopher, places himself at the centre of the question and answer. He simply begins to believe in himself, as there is no external and Greater truth on which he can rely. All that he has done, accomplished and learned, he had done so out of belief in the existence of the a Secret Truth. Now that he realizes there is no such Truth, He fills the void with self-belief, as though this was what had got him through all the previous obstacles.

On the surface it is certainly uplifting and has the nuance of wisdom. Self-belief will be an adequate answer for most people of our age. It is a common Disney message, and it is easy to accept. As a Christian, however, do I really want myself or my children making this their basis and foundation of confidence? Is this wisdom workable? For that is the litmus test of any wisdom: value for this life. Is is wisdom spiritual as well? Does it hold any truth in the Biblical view of Man?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"A man's ways seem innocent to him,
 But motives are weighed by the Lord." (Proverbs 16:2)

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him...
  The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:7-10)

Simply put, man does not hold the truth within himself, or put negatively, not even his heart or motives can be fully trusted. Man's judgement of himself is blinded. So self-belief is not the starting point for a biblical Christian. God-belief, or trust in God, is a better alternative. That is the common starting point of biblical wisdom: acknowledging the goodness, authority of the wise God and Judge and trusting in His strength and command. With Jesus's life, death and resurrection as the ultimate expression of such wisdom (see 1Corinthians 1-2) of God, Christians are given a new self, one which is renewed in the knowledge of the glory of God through Jesus (2Corinthians 4:6). For Paul, this knowledge does have existence outside of the Self and in the person of Jesus. Through this knowledge, hard-pressed, defeated and weak Christians understand and have within themselves [their bodies or "vessels"] the glory of God in reproduction. Self-confidence then can not be separated from one's relationship with the glorious God.

Please don't let the above deter you from seeing the anime. It's brilliantly casted, scripted, animated. There are many sweet moments in the interaction of master and students, and father and son in this motion picture. But wise parents will then need to address the problem of self-belief with impressionable ones, in case children begin to build their self-beliefs on something like "nothing".

4 out of 5 for me.

the essence of Feminism. a book review @500

Any book that can explain Feminism in less than 135 pages is worth reading. Birkett again captures the essence of another important movement or idea that informs my world in this. If you want to know about First and Second Wave Feminism, important Feminists including our produce from down-under such as Greer, and if you wish to understand the achievements of feminists in their historical context, then read this book.

What struck me was the personal journey of Birkett as she thought through the morality and central tenets of feminism as a world-view that tries to make sense of what is the greatest good one can do for herself as a female? Is it total liberation? Is it self-assertion? Is it self-determination? To what degree can and should the female sex pursue these goals? What is the implication for abortion and sexual relations? What is the cost, social, physical and moral? Is it the ultimate achievement for females?

There is a tantalizing bite, in the last 3 pages, of the alternative Christian worldview that makes sense of what it means for females to achieve fulfillment of a different agendum that is not all about self-determination at whatever cost. This is really the most personal part of the book and is a foretaste of what refreshment the Christian answer to the above questions can bring.

The writer is interesting, intelligent and has thought through the issues personally. Again, at such an appealing price and length, it really is a must on feminism, whether ex-, pro-, anti-feminist or simply Christian.

the atonement. book review @500 June '08.

Is God an angry God? There is a problem of humanising God with people who say no. Some who say yes also idolise a humanised god. But in brief, the Lord hates sin and all that is demeaning of his glory and goodness. "The Atonement", by Leon Morris, is a condensed treatment of the propitiation - the turning away of God's anger - achieved at the crucifixion of Jesus, His only Son. I remember the rich meaning Morris made of the "Cross" when I read it, shortly after I became a Christian at 14.

Similar treatises and books have been written throughout history on the atonement. Paul is the first one to have done so at length in his letter to the Romans. Followed by church fathers who formed the Nicean Creed (though for a slightly different purpose of refuting Arianism and other heresies). The Reformation were full of people, such as Luther, Calvin, who continued this tradition. To this day, it is the most important aspect of Christian faith that is attacked, scorned and abused at the scoffer's expense. I think if you do not see the beauty of God's character in sacrificing His one and only Son so that our sins are paid for and punished, then you cannot be sure about your salvation, your right state with God or understand the full extent of His love and justice. As I said, many say yes and no to atonement a priori are idolisers of a humanised god, not the God of the Old and New Testament as revealed in the Law, Prophets and His Son.

Morris goes through the Old and New Testaments thematically to look at big headings of atonement. Covenant (promise), Sacrifice, Day of Atonement, Passover, Redemption, Reconciliation, Propipiation and Justification. Not only does he do a good job at the Bible explanations, but there are hugely important daily ramifications of understanding the atonement and its themes. What does it say about our guilt feelings? Where does the death penalty fit in? What does it mean for freedom from sin in our lives? The atonement overshadows every aspect of the Christian life.

We should always be reading a practical book, and culturally relevant book, and a theological book or bible study at the same time. This is of the last category. Please borrow it from me at NDCCC if you'd like. It saves you from reading Calvin (in German originally), Packer (technical) or Stott (longer).

sex is not the problem, lust is. book review @500

Sex is not the problem. Lust is. That's the new title of 'Not even a Hint", which was briefly reviewed at 500, our evening fellowship at NDCCC. It's been 2.5 years since I've been married, 3.5 years since I've read the book. But it all still makes sense and is relevant. I'm still reminiscing parts of what I remember in my single days from this sweet book on sex, protecting and nurturing Christian sexuality, for the wonderful gift of sex in marriage.

I still struggle. So do all other Christian men and women. No one has defeated lust. That is the summary of the opening pages. But there is the gracious reminder of the good God who created sex and meant it for our fullest enjoyment of this gift. Josh always reminds us of the Holy God who is willing to forgive freely, and restore us in relationship with Him.

The book is easy to read, with short biting chapters. Some helpful hints I remember are:

It's not good to be a lone ranger.

The help of non-judgemental Christian friends who will pray and point us toward holiness is necessary.

Understanding of how different guys and gals struggle with sexuality allows us to be helpful toward one another. 

Perhaps one of the most promising ideas is: sex is meant for loving another, it is other person centred. Sex was made by God as a means of expressing a very special love. It is not to be self-centred. So, what does this say about certain acts of masturbation? What does this mean in when and how we make-love to our spouses? Whose enjoyment and good are we seeking in sex? These made sex a very noble task in my mind. It was certainly a consistent look at sex that is totally against the grain of our stupid and selfish world that lies: seek your own pleasure, do what you want, it is your need and right. God's advice is seeking another's pleasure, doing what is best for them and foregoing our own needs, this applies even in sex. And be surprised, the pleasure in return is all the more greater. God is no spoiler, He designed us for the highest pleasures.

Christian Guys and Girls, read books such as these. They are a fresh wind in a dank, dark and seedy world of lust, self-gratification and waste. It's not an end-it-all book, but another tool we use against lust.

p.s. check out my pastor's short blog on pornography and how to slowly fight it.

p.p.s. the cover is slick too, your friends may willing to take a peek.

outreach media: good news through icons, really.

Our vision dominates our senses. Advertising companies suck us in with billboards, shopfronts, webpages to get their message. On the brighter side, there is an organisation with a good message to give, not to sell, it is called Outreach Media, and is based in Sydney.

We went to the FEVA (Fellowship for Evangelism of the Arts) annual dinner last night at Newtown, and was reminded of how creative these christian images from Outreach Media were. You may remember the "Jesus Loves Osama" poster back in February last year? It made world headlines, and were repeated stolen from churches that displayed it. People wanted it because it was controversial. But Christians loved it, because Jesus Christ really loves Osama, even Osama, whom the world hates. It encapsulates the outrageous love God has for His enemies.

I'm all for sending the right message. The technical term is message discipline. Every breath I take is another moment for the proclamation of something. The stars proclaim their beauty and fame. Leaders proclaim their discipline and ability. School kids proclaim or rather yell out their need for security and peers. Christians proclaim the good news.

So far, not many churches have made use of these creative icons that proclaim the good news. "Oh, they're controversial. It's just art. What would the neighbours think? Shouldn't we spend the money elsewhere?" Please, at the very least people think when they read these billboards from Outreach Media. And, in all their products so far, their theology has been spot on. Jesus came as Lord, He divides the world into love or hatred of Him, not a tasteless backwash. The good news ought to confront everyone, sinner, saint, believer, agnostic or unbeliever.

So I ask, which of the icons above do you worship? Jesus is not one of them, because He can't be sold to you. He gives himself freely. Is that okay with you?

film: The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

3 brothers on a spiritual journey to bond, gather and resolve their sorrows from their father's death. It's not a typical comedy by J. Schwartzman (also lead actor) and W. Anderson. But there is a funny randomness in the re-union of a domineering older brother (O. Wilson), a repressed husband taking a break from his pregnant wife (A. Brody) and a hopeless romantic writer (J. Schwartzman) trying to find some spiritual meaning across the desert plains of India.

The story begins on the Darjeeling Limited, the train that would take these brothers to temples, towns and all the "spiritual" hop-scotch tourists are supposed to be excited about. The oldest brother is set on a quest to bring closeness between estranged brothers, culminating on a visit to their mother, now a nun in rural India. This mother had run out on them since their father's tragic death from a pedestrian v. car accident a year back. Their quest is ludicrous, deliberately tacky and also fails in the end. The mother, out of supposed fear, leaves them once again, after showing them how to express their sorrow and anger "without words", in a scene where all 4 of them look at each other with meaningful expressions, but none of them uttering a sound, with heart-warming music filling in the silence. The next morning the 3 sons are disappointed with another runaway by their mother.

There are amusing minor characters throughout their trip. The captain of the train, a Sikh speaking perfect English, who fights off a poisonous snake with his kitchen spatula. There is an attractive Indian hostess, with whom Schwartzman has a fling on the train, with cigarette smoking (band on the train) as their binding hobby. B. Murray makes a cameo, as a businessman who misses out on the train ride because he carries too much baggage, despite his assertive rudeness and jumping of the queues.

The key event, which turns the 3 brothers' journey around, lies in the death of an Indian boy. This boy is also 1 of 3 brothers, who has a mishap over a crossing of a river. The central characters each tries to rescue a boy from drowning, but alas Brody fails to save his. They spend a good time mourning with the rural family, even though they don't speak their dialect. As they are about to leave, Brody appeals to one of the other Indian brothers rescued, that he did his best to save his brother. They are asked to stay and partake in the cremation funeral rites as honoured guests. After this event, along with a symbolic ritual devised by the brothers themselves with the burial of a peacock feather, finally binds the 3 somehow. They realise what it is like to be alive together and to have spent this precious time with the village in mourning. In particular, it leads the middle brother (Brody), to the realisation of the importance of his own, unborn child. The 3 begin to trust each other, no longer recounting confidential secrets made to each other, but openly sharing each others' problems.

The second last scene at the airport departures show the 3 brothers, each ringing a dear confidante, spouse, girlfriend in ordinal sequence and how they were able to encourage each other in dealing with those relations when they get home. It is quite a sweet moment. Of course, they end up ripping their return flight tickets and set off for another journey in India.

The film is slow, the humour is not the main focus, though it is there, the colours of scenery make an interest watch for someone used to our boring Sydney street styles. It does make a comment on how the customs of India seem to hold more spiritual meaning than that of their home land (America?). The brothers did have to go out to find, but only by pure coincidence, a meaning in their relationship and a resolution of their past sorrows from the loss of their father. There is no resolution with the runaway mother, she remains unredeemed by the writers. And interestingly, she became a nun in India, whose orphanage is threatened by a vicious man-eating tiger. Is this making a slighting comment on the Christian religion as a means of finding self-absolution? I'm probably reading too far.

As a Christian, the problem of resolution from old hurts and reconciliation from broken or just estranged relationships is important. The brothers find it in treasuring what they have now in life. We Christians can treasure what we do have, through the forgiveness that comes freely from God by the death of His only Son. And the relations that we have now are not temporary, so we are not driven by fear of loss, but by the wonderment of reconciliation now, continuing onto eternal relationships that will be made perfect. We can even forgive those who are not repentant or seeking to reconcile (like the runaway mother in the movie), because we have experienced a deep forgiveness with a personal God, whom we have rejected. We don't have to find it and hope it will happen by chance. God has reconciled this world to Himself through His Son (2Corinthians 5:18-19), according to His plan.

Not a bad film in the end, when read the right way. 3.5/5