Five Minutes of Heaven

I just finished watching the movie, Five Minutes of Heaven on BBC2. I found it incredibly thought provoking and would rank it as one of the best movies that I've seen exploring how people come deal with the effects of violence and hatred to each other. Another movie that I would put in the same category is a movie that deals with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's work in South Africa, In my Country. 

Neither of the movies are easy to watch. They do not provide easy answers. They do however raise very important issues to consider and to debate. What relevance does a Christian belief in reconciliation and forgiveness have for people whose lives have been totaly devastated by violence and hatred? I am not sure that simplistic answers will do here. I think the best that we can say is that Christ entered into a world of violence in solidarity with those who suffer from violence. Christ experienced violence as the Son of God. This violence caused devastating harm to Christ and to God. The other statement that I think we can make is that the time will come when violence will be destroyed. Hatred will be rooted out. The world will be made new. In the mean time we have somebody who bears the burden with us.

One review of the movie is available here.