Taxi Needs Genie in a Bottle
The Orthdox Fast is upon us, and as those who are determined to go to the gym or run in any weather, we are called to exercise ourselves spiritually as well. I remember the taxi driver when I first came to live in Omsk. He said, "Once I put a candle in church because I wanted to get a Mercedes Benz, but I didn't get anything, so I don't go to church." That's practical! Using God like a genie in a bottle. God is up in heaven, and He does what He wants, and we are here below, and we do what we feel like. But, but I wonder if we applied that to going to work. What would the boss say? I never came to work a day in my life, but now I expect a full salary, retirement, and everything else. Of course, the boss wouldn't recognize us, so we can't expect God to be naive either. In short, it seems the best thing to do is to go to church more. And it really is nice.Now, the national news put out an article about the movie 'Andrei Rublev' by Tarkovsky. I've seen this a few times, and it is one of the finest films ever made. In fact, it's hard to compare with Tarkovsky, who is like a Dostoyevsky in a way. His movies are heavy and tortuous almost but have an incredibly important message. Andrei Rublev, by the way, was a monk during the time of the Mongol rule and painted the most fantastic Orthodox icons, which dazzle today. The movie depicts the incredible spirit of the Russians, the patience, and that in the midst of it all, marvelous things happen, such as the creation of the bell in the movie. The movie is by no means sugary but also a brutal look at the times, the pagan rituals that were still entrenched in the population, and the betrayal of one Russian prince against another. All of this is shown by the most fantastic filmography.I won't be too ideal, though. I do have some criticisms. Remember 'Braveheart' and 'The Passion of Christ' by Mel Gibson. Indeed, Mel Gibson starred in Braveheart. Well, Gibson, I would say, projected himself into these characters, much like a computer game where you can imagine yourself in the action of the drama. And Tarkovsky also, for better or worse, in my opinion, projects himself into Andrei Rublev. How? Well, he sees Rublev as a struggling genius in a vicious environment, but where art genius wins, without a miracle, by the way. And also, Tarkovsky includes Rublev being seduced by a nude woman during the pagan rituals and where he succumbs. Later, another woman is always around the monastery, someone who he has got attached to. In other words, he projects into the character of Andrei Rublev what he himself would need perhaps in such circumstances to be a genius. Unfortunately, Tarkovsky's personal life followed the usual problems of the director and actor guild. Tarkovsky is considered by some to be a staunch Orthodox Christian. While that may be true, I would say his movies rather push the idea of the supernatural, rather than only Christian. Perhaps his desire was to cut through the official atheism box of his time by proving that supernatural events happen. At any rate, his movies are always slightly or in good measure disturbing. That said, the genius is there, and he is arguably the world's finest director.
The Orthdox Fast is upon us, and as those who are determined to go to the gym or run in any weather, we are called to exercise ourselves spiritually as well. I remember the taxi driver when I first came to live in Omsk. He said, "Once I put a candle in church because I wanted to get a Mercedes Benz, but I didn't get anything, so I don't go to church." That's practical! Using God like a genie in a bottle. God is up in heaven, and He does what He wants, and we are here below, and we do what we feel like. But, but I wonder if we applied that to going to work. What would the boss say? I never came to work a day in my life, but now I expect a full salary, retirement, and everything else. Of course, the boss wouldn't recognize us, so we can't expect God to be naive either. In short, it seems the best thing to do is to go to church more. And it really is nice.Now, the national news put out an article about the movie 'Andrei Rublev' by Tarkovsky. I've seen this a few times, and it is one of the finest films ever made. In fact, it's hard to compare with Tarkovsky, who is like a Dostoyevsky in a way. His movies are heavy and tortuous almost but have an incredibly important message. Andrei Rublev, by the way, was a monk during the time of the Mongol rule and painted the most fantastic Orthodox icons, which dazzle today. The movie depicts the incredible spirit of the Russians, the patience, and that in the midst of it all, marvelous things happen, such as the creation of the bell in the movie. The movie is by no means sugary but also a brutal look at the times, the pagan rituals that were still entrenched in the population, and the betrayal of one Russian prince against another. All of this is shown by the most fantastic filmography.I won't be too ideal, though. I do have some criticisms. Remember 'Braveheart' and 'The Passion of Christ' by Mel Gibson. Indeed, Mel Gibson starred in Braveheart. Well, Gibson, I would say, projected himself into these characters, much like a computer game where you can imagine yourself in the action of the drama. And Tarkovsky also, for better or worse, in my opinion, projects himself into Andrei Rublev. How? Well, he sees Rublev as a struggling genius in a vicious environment, but where art genius wins, without a miracle, by the way. And also, Tarkovsky includes Rublev being seduced by a nude woman during the pagan rituals and where he succumbs. Later, another woman is always around the monastery, someone who he has got attached to. In other words, he projects into the character of Andrei Rublev what he himself would need perhaps in such circumstances to be a genius. Unfortunately, Tarkovsky's personal life followed the usual problems of the director and actor guild. Tarkovsky is considered by some to be a staunch Orthodox Christian. While that may be true, I would say his movies rather push the idea of the supernatural, rather than only Christian. Perhaps his desire was to cut through the official atheism box of his time by proving that supernatural events happen. At any rate, his movies are always slightly or in good measure disturbing. That said, the genius is there, and he is arguably the world's finest director.