Aesthetically it’s also like nothing I’ve ever seen. Filmed in
breathtaking Iceland, the high contrast, hostile yet beautiful environment was
perfect for setting the tone of this story. The music was exhilarating composed
by the master Clint Mansell. I am currently listening to it as I type.
I loved how there was an excess of stars in the sky, aurora borealis,
and otherworldly beauty and color as it would have been since Noah’s time was
far nearer to the time of creation than we are. The sky looked like it was just
days after God finished His great work. This was an absolute genius move by
Aronofsky. I wouldn’t have thought to do that, but it makes perfect sense. It
made you really feel like you were in the time of newness and our world was
indeed about to be born again.
The costumes and people were more medieval than ancient, but I
thought that was a really neat artistic choice. It nods to the Medieval Dark
Ages look to represent another time of minimal intellectual and spiritual
enlightenment later in history. Again I state, if you want something to be an
accurate play-by-play this isn’t for you, but if you are open to reading
between the lines you will get far more out of not only this film but every
film you watch hereafter.
This post is first in a 3-part series of blogs I am doing on the
film. I feel like so many people have completely missed the real point of this
film (or missed the boat! Dun dun duuunnnn) and even though they may still not
listen, I feel an urge to share an analysis of this film in the hopes that
people will at least think about it. I feel like all the upset criticism is
based on a completely surface-level, knee-jerk reaction. This is a film that
cannot be received that way.
A little personal insight.... I am a Christian Believer. I believe
in the Word of God with all my heart. Though Noah is made primarily by people
who may or may not believe and it is not at all a literal presentation, I can
tell you it represents the truth of the Word of God at its core.
The first point I wish to discuss in this post is the symbol of
strength and provision presented in the film. This is a very strong theme that
occurs start-to-finish. This is also one of the top three missed-the-boat
themes.
I have read many reviews where people are upset by what they saw
as a push for veganism and an environmentalist agenda. They do have a point...
if you are looking at the film literally on the surface, it would indeed appear
that way. However, if you look deeper you will see there is more to it that
just that.
In one of the earliest scenes Noah and his two eldest sons go to gather
food. His son wants to pick a flower because it's pretty, but
Noah tells him not to. Basically implying that the flowers are there to be
enjoyed and they are only to take what they need. Basic provision.
Soon after they run into the descendants of Cain who are hunting a
creature for meat. When the sons ask why those men eat meat, (implying that
Noah and his family do not), Noah replies "Because they think it makes
them strong. They forget our strength comes from the Creator."
Now let’s stop right there. That line alone is blatant symbolism
if I ever heard it. Noah wasn't making a point about them not eating meat
because of the poor animals or because of some health thing, he simply says
that these men have forgotten where their strength comes from. The
Creator.
Noah has raised his family well. They are a family that waits and
trusts in God to provide for their needs. The descendants of Cain savagely
consume and overthrow anything in their path to meet their carnal desires. They
do not trust for provision or share with each other or others, they live off
the strength of men alone, and of course that is not strength at all.
In one very unforgettable scene, Noah goes to the village of
Cain's people to try and find wives for his two youngest sons. Here we see them
trading in their poor, frightened daughters as sex objects or slaves just for
meat. They are treating their own kind like "a piece of meat" with
little regard to life or value of those around them. There is no respect for
creation or obedience of the Creator. It's brutal, it's carnal, it's sin. And
the sin was just that, their disrespect and disobedience, not that they were
eating meat. Now it could be true that maybe Aronofsky threw in a bit of
the vegan philosophy too intentionally, but it wasn't the definitive point.
Repeatedly throughout the film we revisit this theme of respect
for creation. It is not some environment-worshipping idea, it's something every
living person should adhere to: respect. To have reverence and awe in your stewardship over everything you are given. To not seek ownership and glory over things
that ultimately do not belong to you and were given to you in Grace. This
includes everything from the earth, other creatures, and your own family.
I could see where people could conceive of a notion of
animal glorifying or environmentalism also when Noah refers to animals as “the
innocents.” But right away it’s explained why they are called that way when Noah’s
son asks why they are innocent, little Ila responds, “Because they live as they
did in the garden.” And in truth, they do live as they did in the garden.
Animals don’t live under the same banner. Only us, creatures created in God’s
image, could therefore have the power to rebel and sin. So in that way Noah was
right, the animals are innocents. It’s not some save-the-earth campaign, it’s
just the truth.
Additionally, if they need to protect the animals to repopulate they
would kind of HAVE to be vegan while you were on the ark.
Noah sees everything as a gift and has a respect and wonder for
all life. He is intentional and has gentleness towards all things and a regret
when he has to be harsh toward anyone or any thing. This is of course with the
exception of the portion later in the film when Noah makes some bad decisions and starts to lose his head,
but I will discuss that part two of my posts regarding Ila and the symbol of new
life and Noah’s struggle to understand the Creator’s true will and plan for him.
Until the next post your homework is to see the movie and listen to the amazing soundtrack. Here is the hauntingly beautiful song from the credits...
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