Mel Gibson's newest film, Hacksaw Ridge, attracted raising concerns and heated discussion among Chinese Christians.
Among tons of comments, here are some in a unique style:
“Hacksaw Ridge: A matter of a Christian’s Faith.”
“Hacksaw Ridge: Faith is to prove that I’m alive.”
“Hacksaw Ridge: You are the salt of the earth.”
“Hacksaw Ridge: indestructible is the power of faith”
Comments of this Christian-style are unique in the waves of commercial promotion. For the latter, you read “The real warriors,” “the best-ever war film, deserved,” and you read “the largest-scale imported foreign films by far.”
Reviewing these Christian-style comments, it’s easy to notice this interesting phenomenon: the film’s depiction of the power of faith are attracting raising attention and heated discussion from Chinese Christians.
Behind the phenomenon, the comprehensive factors contributing to the attraction are worthy of attention.
The most attractive part for Christians in Hacksaw Ridge: Desmond Doss' Christian faith
As a true story adaptation, Hacksaw Ridge is the extraordinary true story of Desmond Doss who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. This was first released in US, Nov 4 and in China on Dec 8, 2016.
The most attractive part falls on the feature’s Christian faith. Desmond Doss was born to a Seventh-day Adventist family in Virginia. Grow up in this very religious family, the seed of “do not kill” was deeply planted into his heart since his very young age, when his father showed him the picture of “The Ten Commandments.”
Doss joined the war against Japanese aggression during WWII, hopefully to serve for the country’s freedom. However, he refuses to carry any weapons, not even a gun for self-protecting, and refusing shooting training. He believed that while the war was justified, killing was nevertheless wrong.
However, after he saves dozens of injured soldiers by himself while under heavy fire, he finally earns admiration from those who ridiculed him.
As an army medic, Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. After lowering a soldier to safety, Doss prays, “Lord, give me one more!” Each time he lowers another soldier to safety the prayer is repeated: “Lord, give me one more!”
Though it’s not purely Christian but the Seventh-day Adventist, the depiction of Doss’ upholding his faith in the war won the appreciation among Chinese Christians.
Context of this newest film: local promotion and in line with Chinese's calling for faith
Hacksaw Ridge got hits both among Christians and non-believers in China, with the context of many highlights in the promotion, basically including that its Chinese distribution rights were acquired by Bliss Media, a Shanghai-based film production and distribution company.
Speaking of the highlights in the promotion, compared with other commercial promotion, in Hacksaw ridge the depiction of feature’s faith is not covered, instead, it is highlighted in the promotion, which also arose resonance among non-Christians, seen among Christian-style reviews/comments.
In recent years, many Chinese are calling for beliefs with the arose of secularism and moral slump. In this context, many kinds of literature calling for beliefs have gone popular among Chinese.
Attraction points for Chinese Christians: depiction of belief and God, Sign and Testimony…
There are very few Hollywood films talking about God and belief straightforwardly, Hacksaw Ridge is a rare one. Here Ben-Hur, the newest edition released this October could be a juxtaposed.
The 2016 re-shoot of Ben-Hur is closely related with the elaboration of Forgiveness and Salvation, called by American Evangelists. And it’s recommended by many evangelical leaders during the promotion.
With that said, the Ben-Hur(2016) didn’t get much attention in China, neither Christians nor non-believers. Some sayings are that those Jesus-related shoots were cut off in the Chinese-edition of Ben-Hur (2016), which makes the select in the original novel and the re-shoot. Consequently, people watched a so-called gospel film without any shoot of Jesus.
While Hacksaw Ridge is exactly the opposite, the depiction of God and belief are not shielded, but highlighted in the promotion, even intentionally emphasized. And the depiction of the brutality of war is so real and shocking.
Many heated discussion on Hacksaw Ridge occurred in Christian salons and fellowships. “It’s interesting, neither preaching nor boring.” was one of many positive comments from a group of Christians in Hangzhou. A pastor from Sichuan highlights its“ restoration the brutality of the war.” There are even some Christian-preaching platforms utilized this film to preach, commenting that “a perfect model for Christians,” “a good witness for the Lord,” etc.
Praise and Tread mixed among Christian: Praise its faith-upholding; tread its Doctrinal differences
Reactions vary among Christians toward Hacksaw Ridge. Some lament Doss’ upholding his beliefs, while others question its Christian doctrine, saying that “Hacksaw Ridge” presents Adventists with an unprecedented opportunity to speak up for, not purely Christianity, but a “heresy of the Seventh-day Adventists.”
With those differences, there are also articles posted to be a guide for universal focus. One stating that even when Doss, when on the Military Court, replaced “Thou shall not murder” with “Thou shall not kill”, the Judge reminded him timely and accurately, about his understanding of the Ten Commandments. And this makes no difference for Doss to uphold his belief, which he also acted out in his life.
Translated By: Alice Wang
