The “Apocalypsis” is a film based
on the last book of the bible, the Revelation authored by the apostle John in
the island of Patmos. It is directed by Raffaele Mertes and written by
Francesco Contaldo and Raffaele Mertes. Released in 2002, it starred Richard
Harris and Bruce Payne. The film features the Christian persecution under the
reign of Domitian, who proclaimed himself divine and demanded worship from all,
including from the Christians. It presupposes that it is under such condition
that the book of Revelation was written by John from Patmos.
The film is helpful in elucidating
the rather obscure book of Revelation. The Apocalyptic literature that
influenced the book of John is replete with images that posit great difficulty
to be decipher by modern-day readers. It is in this vague and incomprehensible
aspect of the book that the film sheds light. The film, faithful to the very
text of the book of Revelation, presents images. They are attempts to guide the
viewers on what John meant about a particular text. There are three particular
images showed in the film that may help the viewers to understand the book of
Revelation: The great Eucharist (Rev 4-5), the woman crowned with stars (Rev
12:1-6), and the transfigured church (Rev 21-22).
The great Eucharist mentioned in Rev 4-5 is presented succinctly by the
film. The scene for this chapters present the elders gathered round God, the
four living creatures (human, lion, ox, and eagle) forming the throne of God,
the seven lampstand and the sealed scroll. The scenes for these chapters
culminate with the announcement of the lion and the coming of the lamb. The
film employed heavenly images. It displays scenic views portraying a
transcendent reality, one that is beyond this world. In this way, the film is
effective in evoking from its viewers the feeling of divine, of awe and fear,
in demanding adoration for the lamb, to whom all characters in these scenes
point to.
The woman crowned with stars described in Rev 12:1-6 is depicted with
great precision by the film. The tension between the woman and the dragon is
rightly “painted” by the film with the apt actions, and other film elements.
The film employed appropriate sounds and lights illustrating the great sign
that appeared in the sky, the woman adorned with various bodies of heaven, her
pain in giving birth to her son, the monster dragon and the chase made by the
dragon after the woman. The film is able to help the viewers to have a glimpse
of the vision of John regarding the Church under persecution and her
persecutors; Satan and the Roman Empire depicted as the dragon and its
connivance. These scenes climax with the rule of Son of the woman who reigns
from heaven with his iron rod. Indeed, this part of the film features the
triumph of God and his Church over Satan and her oppressors throughout the
ages.
The transfigured church mentioned in Rev 21-22 speak of the new
creation, holy city and the new paradise. The scenes of the film for these
chapters are of triumphalist in character. From the experiences of tyrants,
despots of all ages, John presents in the book of Revelation the destiny that
awaits those who remain faithful in God during those dark moments in the life
of the Church. The film employed images describing the reign of God overall and
in all in heaven and on earth. The evil one had ceased to exist as the sea is
no more. The joy that pervades every scene depicts the beatific vision enjoyed
by those who endure the great sufferings and tribulations. They illustrates the
accomplishment of all that had been promised by Christ to those who remained in
Him.
The film concludes with the end of
the Domitian persecution, seemingly to display the triumphant (for now)
achieved by John and his communities by remaining faithful and truthful to the
life God called them to live and proclaim; that is life in Jesus Christ.
By presenting these three scenes
from the book of Revelation, it can be said that truly the film is helpful in
understanding the book of Revelation. The effectiveness and affectivity of the
film to communicate the message of the book is made possible by the film’s use
of vivid images (based on contemporary and medieval interpretations of the text
of Revelation) and putting them in a particular context wherein they can be
understood properly by the viewers and readers alike.
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