Jesus was a Master story teller, and he used stories often in his teaching and to great effect. Stories , or parables, often help us to understand great spiritual truth's and will often challenge us to think and make a decision about the story we have heard. That is exactly what the film, The Most does with audiences. It is a simple but beautiful and profound story.
MOST is a quietly stunning film. Rich with meaning and symbolism, some viewers have said its better than many feature films they have seen. Indeed, this short film earned an Academy award nomination for best short film and went on to win top prizes at three other film festival competitions.
You may have heard the story in church, or in one of those email letters that has passed around the world many times over, as it has become a popular illustration. The film's lead producer Billy Zabka known for his acclaimed role as the bully, "Johnny", in the Karate Kid came to know Christ upon hearing this same story told at a youth camp at the age of 14.
A father and son love each other very much. Stargazing or enjoying tea together, the two are nearly inseparable. One day, Lada, the son, asks his father if he can join him at the bridge. The bridge is where the father works as an operator, raising a drawbridge when a boat must pass and lowering it when the train arrives. On the one day that Lada joins his father at work, a train arrives early. Lada tries to alert his father that the train is early, but his father cannot hear him. Father is away, inspecting some machinery. So, the boy rushes to throw the switch manually, enabling the drawbridge to drop and let the train safely pass. But, by the time the father discovers the problem, Lado has accidentally fallen into the drawbridge wheel and pulley mechanisms. The father must make a choice. Save his son and let the train wreck. Or, lower the bridge, save the train and sacrifice his son to the crushing wheels.
Some may guess the ending already, but I won't spoil it by saying it here. However, MOST goes the extra mile in packing the story with some very strong symbolic images. Many of these symbols are left unexplained, but the discerning viewer will understand them. MOST lets the viewer see some of the sin and depravity of some of the train passengers. And, it also depicts new life and new hope to one of the train's most desperate passengers. Film critics would never be able to criticize this film as Christian propaganda, yet those who have eyes to see and ears to hear will clearly see the parallels to God's redemptive love for us sinners.
More about the movie at
www.mostthemovie.com
TRAILER:
I highly recommend this short film. Many of us need to reminded of how much God loves us and this story/parable will be something I guarantee you will want to share with friends.
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