Being a fiction writer, the following axiom reverberates in my brain every time I read a book or see a movie: show; don’t tell. From day one, every fiction guru I ever followed reiterated that phrase like a mantra. Consequently, I view all movies, Christian or secular, through that prism.
Light that passes through a prism produces a rainbow of colors. A story that shows us the theme through the actions and consequences of the characters lets the reader/viewer discover what the author wants to convey. It’s a colorful and satisfying experience. When someone tells us about the story, the element of discovery is missing. There is no aha moment. It’s as if the author is above us, reciting what’s going on below, rather than being on the ground in the midst of the action, feeling every blow, or smelling every rose.
For example, the phrase “Billy thought the movie was boring,” tells us what Billy thinks. The phrase “Billy rolled his eyes, yawned, and wished he could play Mine Craft instead,” shows the reader what being bored looks like.
I have mixed feelings about Christian movies. On the one hand, I want people to be exposed to a Christian worldview, but on the other hand, I cringe when well-meaning authors thump viewers with verse after verse, lulling them into a stupor. It’s not meant to be a turn-off, but it often is.
Les Miserables is the perfect example of a book/movie that shows the gospel rather than tells it.