LADYHAWKE (1985)

Directed by: Richard Donner
Written by: Edward Khmara, Michael Thomas, Tom Mankiewicz
Studio: 20th Century Fox/Warner Brothers
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer
Rated: PG-13

About the film:
A young thief is befriended by a Captain and his lady love who have been cursed by a jealous bishop. She is a hawk by day and he turns into a wolf by night. Thus they can never be together as man and wife. The thief, Phillipe, joins them as they travel to confront the bishop and exact their revenge.

Movie Quote:
“I know I promised Lord… never again. But I also know that YOU know what a weak-willed person I am.”
Phillipe (Matthew Broderick) in Ladyhawke (1985)

Bible Quote:
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
Psalms 103:13-14 (NIV)

Commentary:
Phillipe’s relationship with God is both amusing and touching. He speaks to Him as he would speak to a close friend. Perhaps if more of us would follow Phillipe’s lead in his manner of conversing with the Almighty, we might receive more answers to our prayers. Of course, we wouldn’t want to emulate Phillipe in the weaknesses he demonstrates.

God hears us when we pray and when we call out to Him in despair. And He does hold us accountable for our words. After all, God will never break a promise that He has made to us. Why shouldn’t He ask that we do the same?

Of course, He knows that we will occasionally fall short in our believing and in our actions. Instead of condemning ourselves when we do, the proper course of action would be to thank God for His forgiveness and correct our behavior so that we might return to a harmonious connection with God’s Will.

Through our continual efforts to be our best for God, we may reduce the amount of time we find ourselves out of fellowship with Him. By thinking before we speak, meaning what we say, and backing up what we say with believing action, we can grow to be the type of men and women in whom God takes great pleasure.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. Phillipe had an unusual personal relationship with God. What biblical personages had similar relationships?
2. Phillipe’s quote was delivered while he was in the act of doing something he promised God he would not do. Does his reliance on God’s understanding and forgiveness excuse his behavior? Why or why not?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com