“So,” he says cautiously, “I watched 1917 today…”
“…and I am feeling rather brutalized.” So I needed to share my feelings to help exorcise my psychic trauma.
The movie was good enough to deserve the accolades heaped upon it, particularly in the technical realm. I knew going in it was going to be realistic. But, I didn’t expect the visceral nature and sheer magnitude of hopelessness and grief it would convey. Not necessarily in a “good” way like you get in some war movies that springboard to the greater good. No, the feeling of futility and the monstrous industrial wholesale slaughter on display tore my emotions open.
This movie can give PTSD, for I sure feel like something was ripped out of my soul after seeing it. I’m still kind of reeling hours later. To see the unflinching after effects of those battles had no hope in them like in “War Horse”, or the feel swell of pride from success like in “The Patriot”. It’s left me wounded, feeling worse than I ever felt watching “Full Metal Jacket” or “Platoon”. I’ve been slowly coming to a realization of the spiritual effects of such entertainments.
Derek Prince warns of such things because the shocks can open us up to torment from the demonic. The spirit of death, fear and grief are pickled all through 1917 in my opinion. You will need a hard heart indeed to get through it unscathed. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Movies seem to be doing this more and more often lately. Sorry, I just need to get this out lest it fester in my head by going unattended, unfelt, and not understood. Part of the grieving process for a wound in the spirit.
And in the midst of all that, there is one writing twist that is so good, it almost feels like a mean trick. I was left shocked that the writers would do such a thing. It completely changes the tone of the movie in certain respects. Some things become heroic, and others become bittersweet tragedy.
Anyway, I needed to flush this out somewhere, and maybe others have seen it and know what I’m talking about and feel the same. A stellar accomplishment in film-making, excellent story.
View at your own risk.
My sensitivities have definitely deepened as I get older, but I think one’s relationship with God brings an more acute awareness that quickens your exposure to darkness. Like many things in life, there are times when God protects us despite our decisions, and other times when he allows us to suffer for a greater purpose beyond our ability to comprehend.
We can learn from things like movies and the like, but we may not be the wiser for it.
That seems to be very true.
I do not know why I was affected quite like I was. I mean I’ve seen shocking scenes and pretty gruesome stuff before. Then again, I’m starting to become more sensitive to things that even six months ago I wasn’t. He’s made me more spiritually aware of things that are threats to my spirit and by extension, other parts of my being.
I know it won’t affect everyone the same way, but it was something I just had to share.