STAR WARS — REVENGE OF THE SITH

The sixth and final STAR WARS film marks the end of a 30 year odyssey. This final film takes us full circle and reveals how Annakin Skywalker actually transformed into Darth Vader and also sets up the entire underpinning of the original STAR WARS.

What makes the STAR WARS series such a powerful experience is, of course, the whole message of, “the force”.

STAR WARS is the classic battle between good and evil – again, within ourselves and out in the world. Luke Skywalker the hero, has a destiny. Orphaned, left to himself, he feels the calling of his future but doesn’t know how to manifest it. Again, in the great tradition of spiritual practice, “when the student is ready, the teacher appears”. In the STAR WARS series, Luke has three great teachers: Obe Wan Kenobee, Yoda, and his father Darth Vader. He is taught the balance between the light and the dark.

In the first STAR WARS Luke first meets Obe Wan and learns the history of the universe, his family, and his tradition. It is in this sequence Obe Wan explains the force as “the energy that binds us, that guides us, that is everywhere at once”. It is explained to Luke that Darth Vader “got seduced by the dark side of the force” and, as mentioned before, the final film in the series actually shows us how Vader was indeed so corrupted.

Darth Vader becomes privy to the powers of the cosmos that are balanced in nature in perfect harmony between the dark and the light. Each are acknowledged with equanimity by the universe. As humans, this is part of our evolution. To acknowledge all sides of our nature and to choose to pursue the power of our beauty. To attain our greatness without losing sight of our frailty and vulnerability. Unfortunately, due to his own desperate love and fears as revealed in SITH, Darth Vader becomes forever enmeshed in the dark.

The climactic confrontation in the first STAR WARS film put Luke in a position that literally “forces” him to transcend the “illusion” around him and trust in a power beyond his ordinary senses. This sequence has brought us one of the most famous phrases in the history of movies, building on the mantra of the film. Luke has to drop a bomb into a very small opening in the Empire’s Death Star so he can thwart the Emperor’s plan to destroy the resistance to its rule. The timing of the drop and the space into which it must fit is so precise that even his on-board computer can’t quite get it right. As he nears his last chance to save the day, he hears his mentor’s voice telling him to “Trust the force, Luke. Reach out with your feelings.” (In REVENGE OF THE SITH, Luke’s father Annakin faces the same choice and makes a very different decision).

“Trust the force.” Three words. A powerful lesson for all of us. One of the big challenges we face is our ability to trust what we cannot see. Luke had evolved in his training as a Jedi that he could, with justification, trust the force. I find that to be a powerful metaphor because I believe we as a humanity are in search of trusting something beyond our ordinary senses.

Both Luke and Annakin were urged to trust their own inner connectiveness to the power of the universe and their unique place within it. Both made decisively different choices and therein lies the power of our humanity. This new kind of trust is not about giving the power away and praying that the independent power outside of ourselves will smile benignly and grant our wishes. It is saying we have the power to trust the majestic power of the force within us all.

“Thank you, George Lucas, for creating one of the great spiritual film series of all time.”

This Month's Spiritual Cinema Circle Films

BUTTERFLY WOMAN — In this magical tale, a woman turning 50, wrapped up in her career track and a failing affair with a married man, is sent to the seaside to interview a young female author who has just won a major literary prize. The two women seem like exact opposites on the surface, but this film’s journey leads us into the inner landscape of the feminine where all people can unite in the common ground of our true selves. Transformative and heart opening, Butterfly Woman shows us one woman’s journey from chrysalis to butterfly. Written and Directed by Signe Soby Bech. (31 min. Danish with English subtitles)

 STUCK — When fate strands five complete strangers together in an elevator, they do what any of us would do in their situation: talk to pass the time. The microcosm of their small world so brilliantly reflects our larger one, in all of its hope, cynicism, pain and joy, that when the surprise ending hits, the perspective you receive will last a lifetime. You will want to watch this one again and again. Starring Wendie Malick and Ken Howard. Directed by Clark Harris. (17 min. in Swedish with English subtitles)

 REFLECTION — In the director’s own words, this film is “a short, suspenseful, bittersweet tale of a family overcoming the loss of a child and ultimately finding peace.” Beautifully shot and edited, Reflection won First Prize for Best Short Film at the inaugural Spiritual Cinema Festival-at-Sea. See why this film captured our Jurors’ hearts, and why Tony Dean Smith is a filmmaker to keep an eye on! Written and Directed by Tony Dean Smith. (20 min. in English)

 JAMES’S JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM — An incredible epic tale of a young man driven to take a pilgrimage from his small village in Africa all the way to Jerusalem, the Holy Land, to bring back a message of hope to his villagers. The true journey, however, is the shift that takes place in James’ own concept of himself and how he fits into the world. A lesson for us all in faith, consumerism, ethics and priorities. This feature was an art house hit that we are thrilled to be able to bring to our membership. Starring Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe as James. Written by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz and Sami Duenias. Directed by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz. (87 min. in Hebrew, English and Zulu with English subtitles)

For more information about the Spiritual Cinema Circle, click here.