F I L A A S /reviewed, by Rudy Nelson
w W W orld Vision’s new docu mentary film, A Cry in the Night, (produced by Westminster Films) will be a rewarding experience for almost any audience. It contains gorgeous color photography from all over the Orient as only its peo ple know it. It transports the view er to a Hindu funeral ceremony in India, a pastors’ conference in Ban dung, Indonesia, an anti-American parade in Japan and an evangelistic crusade in Seoul, Korea. Nor is the camera satisfied to take the scenic route through the Asian countryside. It moves in close to the people—to the agile, expressive fin gers of a deaf mute “saying” the Lord’s Prayer, to the radiant face of a Filipino grandmother on her deathbed listening to the 23rd Psalm, to the tortured body of a young Hindu girl at the climax of a demonic temple dance. Other things about this film are commendable also. The script, writ ten by Carl F. H. Henry and Wil liam Brusseau (who is also the producer-director), is a scholarly one which at times is powerful and even poetic. The sound is excellent. Put all these characteristics to gether and you should have a win ner. And yet, to me, A Cry in the Night was curiously unsatisfying. I do not suppose it is fair for a review er to say a film was good but not as good as it could have been. (Of how many good films isn’t that true?) However, that is exactly what I in tend to say; and I hope it is a justi fiable and constructive observation. Somehow, in the tremendous di versity of the film, the thread of unity is lost. The viewer is shut tled abruptly from Hinduism to Communism to demon possession back to Communism to nationalism and so forth, with a periodic inter jection of Christianity as the answer to all the ills of Asian culture. The transitions and logical development are not clear. Fortunately, an ef fective closing sequence salvages some order out of the disunity. A second basic objection is the misleading impression A Cry in the Night gives of Bob Pierce’s and
World Vision’s ministry in the Far East. The film makes it appear that this work consists of the junketing of a well-dressed American, with an occasional pastors’ conference or evangelistic crusade. We know this is not true. Most of us are aware of the good work World Vision is doing. But this does not come through in the total impression of the film—notwithstanding the ac tual words of the script which do give a more accurate perspective. Obviously, only a part of World Vision’s ministry could be shown. It is to be regretted that the part does not better represent the whole. And even the part which was covered could have been dealt with more clearly. For example, im mediately after the narrator assures us that Asia must be won by Asians, we see a lengthy sequence of the Seoul evangelistic crusade conduct ed by a contingent of ruddy-cheeked Americans. Once again, the script has an explicit statement that this is only a shot in the arm against the day when the white man is no long er welcome in Asia. But these few words are all too easily missed; and on the surface the Seoul crusade appears to be a wholesale imposi tion of western techniques and con cepts on the Oriental personality. Having voiced these reservations, may I reiterate plainly that A Cry in the Night, because of its several positive values, is a motion picture eminently worth showing—suitable for large premieres, ind iv idua l churches, student groups or mission ary conferences. 52 minutes, color. Children's Series Five new titles in the Our Chil dren series have recently been re leased by Family Films. Designed to help boys and girls find Christian solutions to everyday living prob lems, these films are ideal for use in the church school. For greater effectiveness, a utilization guide booklet is available. New titles are: First Impressions, Half Inch of Selfishness, God’s Christmas Gift, Spending Money and Turn the Other Cheek. 15 min., color or b.&w.
D ID YOU KNOW . . . That "wai” (p ronoun ced "Y” ) in Hawaiian means "water” ? . . . That "ala” in Hawaiian means "way” ? A N D D ID YOU KNOW . . . That KAIM and KAIM-FM, Hawaii’s only missionary radio sta tions, are daily presenting to the spiritually needy in the Islands the only true and living "Ala” . . . and the "Wai” of Life? THAT 'S R IGHT . . . The music and message of the Gos pel is being beamed into thousands of homes that would never otherwise hear the good news of "He Aloha Ke Akua” . . . "The Love of God” . . . and W E 'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW . . . That you can have a very real part in this vital air ministry, too. W AN T TO KNOW HOW? . • . We’ll gladly tell you. Just clip the handy coupon below and send it to us, "KAIM, Box 375, Honolulu, T.H.”
Please tell me more about the Hawaii Christian Broadcasting Association.
Name..........................................
Address.....................................
SEND TO: KA IM , BOX 375, HONOLULU, T.H.
The King's Business/September 1958
5
Made with FlippingBook Online document