I've read somewhere that the movie industry in the Philippines is declining, but I haven’t paid much attention to it because, when it comes to film productions compared to Western countries or even India, I hate to say it, but theirs are far better than ours. However, I won’t deny that there are some good movies to watch aside from the usual ones revolving around issues such as third parties, inheritance disputes, love affairs, and exchanging of infinite bullets. It’s like drama series that are aired for a few months but then compressed into an hour long movie. Different titles, different artists, different versions, but all the same.
Now, regarding this film titled "Dear Satan," I see it as an attempt to somehow separate their movie from what we usually get. They’re trying to be unique, to stand out, and at the same time be intriguing as the title obviously suggests. It definitely caught my attention and likely others who'd agree that from the title alone, it sounds like another heresy. Perhaps, they intended it that way for the sake of media mileage which they’re willing to risk. My opinion on this may not promote their movie in good faith, along with the rest who also find it despicable, but I’m pretty sure they saw that coming because, come on, "Dear Satan"? A title for a movie produced in a predominantly Christian country? They just stirred the pot!
After watching the three-minute official trailer, I have even more reason to speak out against this blatant display of irreverence. It seems to have trivialized our Christian faith, disregarding what is sacred to us.
The Letter of the Child
At the 0:16 mark, Paolo, who portrays Satan, holds the letter that Chichi, the child, was writing after it was blown by the wind. Chichi, who's feeling drowsy, appears to have mistakenly addressed the letter by writing "Dear Satan" instead of "Santa," yet managed to write nine lines of her request.
This movie is definitely not for kids to watch alone. An adult is needed to help them understand that Chichi made an innocent mistake, but what if that adult is more invested in watching the movie or even lacks a sense of parental responsibility? Regardless, writing a letter addressed to Satan can leave a lasting impact on a child’s mind. When faced with difficulties in life, the child might recall how carefree and extravagant life would be by sending a letter to Satan.
The Master of Deception
At the 0:31 mark, Satan, disguised as Santa, arrives at the place where Chichi requested him to meet her as mentioned in the letter-- probably an orphanage. He brings a gift, but she doesn’t seem to expect it since her actual request is to have a family. Satan then grants her request, and in the next scene, he appears to be very enthusiastic about teaching her his ways. A scroll is unrolled, listing the seven deadly sins.
At least they’re specific in listing the seven deadly sins and not put a label to it as lesson plan, but it feels like one since the scroll is unrolled right after Satan says, "I’m gonna teach her my ways." However, as the character of Satan transitions later on, kids might think it’s okay as long as there’s a change of heart when we can prevent them from happening. This is also something we should be cautious about: Satan is a master of deception. He will appear pleasing and offer us things we can hardly refuse.
The Deadly Sins
At the 0:52 to 1:17 mark, Satan takes the child to a grocery store where he teaches her about greed, pride, and gluttony. In the next scene, he tempts the child to lust.
It’s unrealistic that a stranger would let you purchase tons of stuff, especially here in the Philippines, but the movie suggests otherwise. But Satan suggests that the more you have, even unnecessary, is fine. Also, the magazine featuring people in their undies is inappropriate to even include that scene where children are the target audience.
The Absurd Conversion
Later in the trailer, Satan is having a conversation with a woman who advises him to give time to Chichi, as if to extend his patience. Then Chichi gets into an accident. I don’t know if she’s just unconscious or if she loses her life, but the next scene, where Satan carries her into the church, suggests that she might have died at the moment of her accident.
WAIT! WHAT?! Satan went inside the church carrying the child, for what? To plead with God to revive her? I don’t want to imply that there’s no hope for Satan to convert from being evil to saintly, becase the truth is, he never will. Think of the crimes in the world, the wars, the missing people, the slaughter. True, these are committed by humans, but they wouldn’t do them if not under the influence of evil, Satan himself.
The trailer suggests that Satan transitions from a bad guy to somehow a good guy, that’s HERESY! Evil is evil! Satan is real! If this movie and its supporters simply ignore the critics because "it’s just a movie, not to be taken seriously," then I’m afraid they’re being deceived. At the end of the trailer, there’s a scene where Satan confesses that he’s Satan, and the woman’s reaction is as if it were a just joke.
While I understand that the director or whoever is behind this movie wanted it to be something out of the ordinary, there’s a fine line between creative expression and outright disrespect. "Dear Satan" seems to have crossed that line. Instead of contributing to a meaningful discourse, it provokes those who are meant to be provoked.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8
Satan’s evil cannot be separated from him, he will remain what he has become-- evil. We cannot justify his actions simply because one believes he was deprived of affection, leading him astray from righteousness. He’s not like us human beings who still have our free will, giving us the opportunity to choose whether we want to be condemned to hell or glorify God in heaven.
He was an angel, named Lucifer, as mentioned in Isaiah 14:12-15, and he must have been the most beautiful among all the angels of God, as described in Ezekiel 28:12-17. But he completely fell from grace when he desired to be exalted above God, his creator, our creator. I, too, can sometimes fall from grace but like any of repentant sinners, we start over again and again because we fear the Lord.
I’m not claiming to be without sin, as that would make me a hypocrite. But I’m confident that Satan is Satan, the source of all evil, and he is among us.
0 Comments