Faith in Film, Week 2


I am drawn to movies that engage me in thinking about the world and, particularly, thinking about faith in a deeper way. Even though "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" isn't a Christian movie, and is probably aimed more at kids than most serious adult movies, I find that it achieves both those goals.

The film was written and directed by Zach Helm, the guy behind the screenplay for "Stranger Than Fiction," and he is someone who clearly sees beauty, depth, magic, and creativity in the world, and more importantly wants us to embrace that more. The journey from the page to the screen was a long one for this movie. Helm first wrote the screenplay in 1998, and it sat in a drawer for some time before it was revived and he got a chance to direct it. The process took 10 years and was often fraught, so much so that Helm has reportedly never seen the final cut of the film. And he hasn't had a script produced for the big screen since.

Despite that, I feel what he's trying to communicate with this movie, and it really strikes me. The central focus is on Molly Mahoney, a 23-year-old pianist who was told all her life she was destined for greatness after becoming somewhat of a prodigy at a young age. Now, she feels the weight of that expectation with little to show for it. She sees that there is magic in the world, but she can't feel it.

The process, for her, is awakening to the beauty, wonder, and creativity in the world, and the way that can help her tap into her greatest gifts. And Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is a catalyst for that journey. He encourages her to unleash on the world those talents and gifts that are uniquely hers, and more importantly to make the most of the journey. "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it," he challenges her. It's a beautiful and poignant moment in the film, and part of the only dialogue in the finished film that never changed from Helm's original 1998 draft.

The thing is, it's not just good advice for Molly, it's good advice for us, too. Our lives are an occasion, and we, too, need to rise to them. That is the way God made us. As Christians, deeply rooted in faith and the authority of Scripture, we should sparkle. The world was wonderfully and beautifully made. Our God is a God of wonder, creativity, and beauty, and as a reflection of Him, we are those things, too. But, sadly, we often get caught up in the routine and demands of life and miss those opportunities. Movies like this are a reminder to fight against that impulse.

Discussion Questions:
1. Did this film work for you, why or why not?

2. Mollie Mahoney was once a talented, rising star, but now she feels stuck. Why can’t she seem to find her way and her purpose?

3. Henry, the “Mutant,” doesn’t believe in magic. He’s locked into a rigid view of the world and his place in it. Why was it important for him to come to Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium?

4. Molly and Henry are very different people, but they have a very similar problem. How does Mr. Magorium help open them up to being their best selves?

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