Disney and Faith: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

There is a scene in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) set inside the titular French cathedral, in which the gypsy woman Esmerelda (voiced by Heidi Mollenhauer) sings:

“I don't know if You would listen

To a gypsie's prayer....

God help the outcasts

Hungry from birth

Show them the mercy

They don't find on earth

God help my people

We look to You still

God help the outcasts

Or nobody will.”

These are very Christian words, from the Hollywood studio which at the time was being boycotted by some large Christian groups in America, including the Southern Baptist Association, for the supposedly negative values the company espoused. Was this song part of a plan to bring back large sub-demographics of the American nation back to Disney movies?

Whatever the motive behind these lyrics in Hunchback, on the surface they seem quite authentically Christian.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

The pious parishioners pray in the same scene:

“I ask for wealth

I ask for fame

I ask for glory to shine on my name

I ask for love I can possess

I ask for God and His angels to bless me”

The writers of this song paint an accurate picture of wrong motives in prayer and worship. These characters are self-interested, and greedy for wealth and fame. What a truth that we still need to experience now, 20 years after the movie was released. There is a reason that Christians have had the label of “hypocrite” - some of us have been hypocrites! But every time a follower of Christ is genuinely kind, helpful and loving, this can change someone's perception of Christians – and Christ.

Interstellar and Star Wars

I saw Interstellar at my local multiplex recently. Director Christopher Nolan had impressed me with Inception in 2010 as an original film which was far more engaging and challenging to the mind than most big budget movies. I also appreciate the Dark Knight trilogy which he has directed - even if my Batman fanboy friends don't enjoy them as true Batman stories.

Interstellar was, as one friend of mine put it, a movie that sticks in your head. It follows a farmer in the US, 50 or so years in the future from now. The biggest industry in that time is farming, since the world had run out of food (apparently resulting in world wars). Matthew McConaughey deftly portrays a father who needs to go very far to save humanity from disappearing.

I agree, Interstellar does indeed stick in your mind. From a passionate speech on the powerful value of love from Oscar- winner Anne Hathaway, to the courageous, colourful and fast paced climax, the film puts pictures - and music from Hans Zimmer - in your memory.

Which brings me to Star Wars. With the teaser trailer for Episode VII: The Force Awakens online this week, it makes me draw a comparison between the two. Interstellar accesses deep emotions and covers epic themes of humanity, family and destiny. To me, Star Wars should do the same thing. Anakin's descent into the dark side and ultimate redemption has set a benchmark for the types of stories the Star Wars films should cover. But I wonder if the producers at Disney are on the same wavelength as me?



I'm not a Disney basher... all the time. I find many of their family movies heartwarming and entertaining (see my review for Saving Mr Banks, for an example). One thing I find, though, is that Disney likes to make money. So much so, they don't keep the integrity of their characters throughout all licensed products. You can find Belle from Beauty and the Beast presented with 5 different faces along different product lines of toys, books and DVDs. I just hope that they respect the Star Wars fans better than they respect young girls who buy princesses and fairies.

Back to Interstellar. Upon the credits rolling, I felt inspired. Inspired that stories can change me - change the world. I hope that we see more such movies - and maybe some called Star Wars.