“There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” ~ John 15:13
Self-sacrifice: The act of deliberately following a course of action that has a high risk or certainty of suffering, personal loss, or death (which could otherwise be avoided) in order to achieve a perceived benefit for self or others.
There is nothing more impacting than the act of self-sacrifice; it will always result in a life being changed. From the military laying their lives down on the battlefield, to the young boy who chooses to give his cookie to his little sister, the act of sacrifice will never be forgotten.
This concept is easily seen in the film “Most.” Pronounced M-aw-st (rhymes with cost), it means “The Bridge” in the Czech language. Shot on location in the picturesque Czech Republic and directed by Bobby Garabedian, this 33 minute short presents a range of characters who go about their daily lives in sin, loss, and love. It also shows the relationship between a young boy and his father, whose love for each other is so strong that it is seen by the average passerby. In a sudden turn of events, the father is faced with a dreadful choice. The sacrifice is not even known or noticed by the people that were saved, except for one woman. Her life is changed by what she witnesses, and she encourages the man later with the results of her new choices.
The story told is a powerful allegory of the choice that our God made by sending His Son to save us:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” ~ John 3:16
Conclusions:
Photography?
The cinematography for this short is nothing short of brilliant. It’s creative shots are well thought out to support the tone and pace of the story; the audience is drawn in at once.
Mature concepts?
Please be aware that there are close-ups of a woman smoking, a girl preparing her arm for a drug that she is boiling, and a brief instance of a young couple kissing, as well as a death (implied, but not explicitly shown). There is no foul language used.
Moral Value and Application?
Suitable for churches, home groups, families, and also for pre-evangelism, this is a poignant modern-day parable with a direct correlation to Christ’s redemptive work. It’s message is clear, even without overt references to God or Jesus.
Subtitles in English?
The majority of the dialogue is in Czech, and the film was produced with the intent of viewing with subtitles, and this does not diminish the power of the film. The new release, coming 03/01/2011, will include Czech and German closed-caption options, as well as English.
Recommended?
Yes. I would rate this film as family safe. Multiple viewings will also bring to light minute story details that you probably won’t notice the first time.
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Written by Jerry, Edited by Rebekah Cook
"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
