It's Time For... Another Movie Review! "The Crash Reel"

I was privileged to hear Kevin Pearce, along with two of his brothers, David and Adam, speak at the National Down Syndrome Convention about two weeks ago.  We were 'teased' with a clip from this documentary film, and I finally got around to seeing the rest of it. 

Wow.  This is... not an easy film to watch, and mostly because it is very honest, and very real.  You travel the journey along with Kevin, his family and his friends, and you will witness the sometimes extreme life of 'extreme' athletes.  The documentary does explore the levels to which these sports are going, with increasingly complex tricks, on higher pipes, which mean more air, but also worse falls, as well as the issue of health insurance- which often does not cover what these athletes do.   

At age 18, Kevin Pearce seemingly popped up out of nowhere, and began winning all kinds of competitions, and was for all intents and purposes the only real rival for Shaun White on the snowboard.  Within four years, they were both preparing for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, when came a fateful practice on a pipe in Utah, less than 60 days before.

The accident (yes, it was captured on video)- compared to some others you will see through the course of the documentary actually doesn't LOOK too terrible, though the results were a catastrophic traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Afterward, there is a lot of healing and readjustment that has to take place, not the least of which was six months in the hospital, and this is the part that I found captivating.  In many ways, looking at Kevin and hearing him speak, you would not know the long road he has traveled in recovery.  And he wanted nothing more than to snowboard again.  This despite doctor's dire warnings against hitting his head again, and the worries expressed by his family,and probably no one more than his older brother David, who has Down Syndrome.

Kevin's journey to realizing and accepting his new limitations is a long road, and it took many 'puzzle pieces' coming together, such as trying a small jump on a snowboard and being unable to make it, meeting someone else who had multiple brain injuries, and finally, the death of a pipe skier at the same place he had his accident.  All of these things forced him to look at his new reality, to see what his strengths still are, and work towards a new goal and purpose.  There is a wonderful parallel made at one point, between Kevin's accepting his new reality and limitations, and his brother David finally trying to accept the reality that he has Down Syndrome. 

Ultimately, that purpose materialized in a foundation called "Love Your Brain".  LoveYourBrain is "the message that embodies our positive approach to brain injury prevention and recovery. Everything we do is about connecting, educating and empowering people to promote a brain healthy lifestyle." 

173,000+  people treated for a TBI each year are 19 years old or younger, and there is a growing awareness of concussions among student athletes.  Kevin's story, and that of his family, is a great one to share to talk about this issue, and experience it in a very vivid way. 



 

   

Movie Clips... The New Parable?

Jesus often used parables, stories to give the people who were listening an understandable context for what he was trying to teach.  He used familiar ideas and relationships- farming and fishing, crops, inheritance, family and even an unfriendly relationship with the Samaritans, to share his message.  The interesting thing is, what most often resulted was confusion, unease, and at times anger.  Jesus rarely explained his parables, and often if asked he responded with a question or... another parable.      

I would like to present videos, or movie clips as a way to do the same thing in a catechetical setting.  What are movies but visual stories?  Like Jesus' parables they tell their stories in familiar places and situations and in the midst of familiar relationships.  Movies can take us into history, or even beyond our own world into the most fantastical places.  They have also presented visually some of the best that fiction has to offer.  They are a rich tool particularly for many with special needs in their ability to 'illustrate' ideas and stories.  I used this one to be able to give my kids in sacramental prep a glimpse of the Last Supper, and to make some of the connections to what they see and hear at Mass.

Videos and movie clips can also be very thought provoking, particularly if preceded and/or followed by some prayer time, and a good discussion starter.  Tough issues can be more easily brought up if you are talking about a character.  Here's one to begin a conversation about salvation history, or sin and grace, and...??   
     

Also, do not underestimate the power of Disney- I would even say in particular Pixar.  Their movies have had some beautiful affirmations of community, marriage and family, and individual gifts- just to name a couple of things (come on, you probably teared up during the opening 15 minutes or so of 'UP" too)   

 
I would not suggest showing a 60 or even 30 minute segment of a movie- that does not allow for much if any lesson, or good discussion, and is not a good use of already limited time.  3-5 minutes is a good time to aim for and is usually long enough to get the point across.  

This means that any clip we show must be carefully chosen, with a few questions in mind: 

1.  Is is appropriate for the audience?

2.  Does it clearly illustrate the message or story it is intended?

3. OR, can it be used to spark/fuel discussion on the intended topic? 

A couple things to note: first, be aware that if you show a clip from a movie some may want to go and watch it all.  A great clip from a questionable movie might not be worth it.  So it is always a good idea to be aware of and follow viewer guidelines and policies for parental permission/notification. 

You can find a wealth of videos and clips on YouTube  another good place to look for movie clips is WingClips

What are some of your favorites?? 


   

Curiosity

 

 

 

I had a difficult time expressing 'curiosity', so I decided to look it up.  Curious means "eager to learn or know, inquisitive", also "arousing or exciting speculation, interest, or attention through being inexplicable or highly unusual; odd; strange" (dictionary.com). 

 

We are naturally curious, but our curiosity is sparked by different things.  I am much more eager to learn new skills in baking, or even with electronics or mechanics than in say, plumbing (not to say that is lesser- thank you God for plumbers!)  The same is true of the faith, and there are limitless 'curiosities' in the revelation of God.  It might be Scripture, a particular teaching, the mystery and beauty of the liturgy that draws someone in, or sacramentals like rosaries or statues.  For example, My husband and I took my niece once to Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Rite) and talk about a picture of 'curiosity'- at the age of two, she sat with me the whole time just LOOKING at everything, with wide eyes, and thumb in mouth.  So, I took the opportunity, this time to quietly point out and identify a few things for her.

 

 

Nothing is quite so curious as Jesus.  Historically speaking, he should really not have been more than (perhaps) a blip on the timeline.  Born to a poor family, he worked as a carpenter and taught publicly for just three years before being killed by crucifixion (pretty much the worst form of death in existence) as a criminal, for blasphemy.  Why? He claimed to be the Son of God, the 'King of the Jews'.  And yet, today, Christianity is the world's largest religion, with 2.2 billion followers, 50% of which are Catholic.  In other words, love him or not, Jesus is not someone who can be ignored.  I think Fr. Barron said it well, "He either is who he says... or he's a madman!"  Jesus asked his followers "Who do you say that I am?" Well... that's pretty much the question we want to spark... "who is Jesus"?     

 

We have to be able to answer this question for ourselves first.  Then, as we do with any great friend, we talk about Him- we share his story, and 'our story'.  We post pictures and stories, quotes and good times had with any of our friends and family all the time on Facebook.  Kind of the same idea, if Jesus is a friend, like any relationship, he's going to come up!

Relationship with Jesus changes us, and shifts our perspective in life.  He sheds a light on our very existence, the beautiful and difficult realities we face- if you let him.  Following him shapes our thoughts, words and actions, leads us to prayer (talking to Him), to his Church (his community), and to the sacraments (sharing in his life- God's life).  Now more than perhaps ever, it is a mystery, a "curiosity" to see someone living a relationship with Christ.  There is something attractive, which can't be readily explained or put in "a box," and which raises questions. 

 

It is important to know that while intellectually, specific doctrine may be inaccessible to some, this "living witness" of faith and relationship with Jesus is accessible to anyone. And those with special needs, whose lives in many ways are themselves a 'curiosity,' can provide in a very powerful and real way that same glimpse of Jesus, who as Henri Nouwen reminds us, "revealed Himself in vulnerability" as a helpless baby, and later on the cross.

"We are to live lives of such inexplicable joy, love, faith, and peace (even in trial)

 that all the normal categories by which non-believers try to classify us won't work."