Best this month
Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech), is a romantic drama based on the 1862 French novel by Victor Hugo. In this musical ver- sion, all of the characters sing their lines. Part of the story’s popularity (there have been more than 60 film adaptations) is that it evokes and touches our universal yearnings for justice, love, freedom, redemption and forgiveness.
Whereas revenge
remains a widespread theme in contemporary movies, some bold dramas, like this one, have the characters returning love instead of hate to those who are perceived as enemies. Released from prison, Jean Valjean finds shelter in a bishop’s home. When he steals the church’s candlesticks, the bishop refuses to press charges. Valjean is astonished and humbled by this act of kindness and mercy. Forgiveness is an invitation to start over again.
What Happens Next? Flip the Flap
and Find Out A world of surprises awaits children who observe animals in the natural world. Every day there is a new show open-
The Brussats pub- lish the website www. SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
ing and you can get in for free, all you have to do is bring along your patience, attention and won- der. In this delightful picture book for children ages 3 and up, they can flip the flap and find out about some aspect of the life of a chameleon, bea- ver, peacock, honeybee and two chimps. Author Nicola Davies fashioned a satisfying primer to help tear down the walls that separate the world of kids from the world of animals (Can- dlewick Press, www.
Candlewick.com).
42 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
Valjean makes wise use of the freedom given to him. He becomes a successful businessman and mayor of his community. He extends kindness to a dying prostitute, agreeing to raise her daughter. Late in life he grants for- giveness to the policeman who has persecuted him for most of his life. Tears will flow during these powerful scenes (Universal Pictures, PG-13—suggestive sexual material, violence, thematic elements).
Blessings of the Animals: Celebrating Our Kinship with All Creation
In this inspiring collection of stories and animal encounters, Gary Kowalski pays tribute to the many ways in which these creatures brighten our lives, heal and transform us, and serve as our spiritual teachers. He points out the close con-
nections many saints had with animals: St. Ambrose with bees, St. Hubert and his stag, St. Hugo with his swan, and St. Francis, who called animals his brothers and sisters. On a visit to see snow geese gathering, Kowalski tells how these birds share leadership, work together and encourage each other. He also writes creatively about the role of animals in the Christmas story. He ends on a spiritual note with his observations on the blessing of the animals ritual at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Here we see the role that Christian churches can play in encouraging respect for all of God’s creatures (Lantern Books,
www.lanternbooks.com).
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Les Misérables
Anne Hathaway stars in Les Misérables as Fantine.
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