{"id":4137,"date":"2024-10-14T01:02:29","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T05:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=4137"},"modified":"2024-10-11T01:03:10","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T05:03:10","slug":"director-ryan-whitaker-talks-film-journey-of-surprised-by-oxford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/2024\/10\/14\/director-ryan-whitaker-talks-film-journey-of-surprised-by-oxford\/","title":{"rendered":"Director Ryan Whitaker Talks Film Journey of ‘Surprised by Oxford’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The charming new independent feature \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d is now available for streaming, exclusively on Angel Studios\u2019 platform. This heartfelt adaptation of Carolyn Weber\u2019s memoir, written and directed by Ryan Whitaker, tells a personal and poignant story that delves into themes of love, vulnerability, and faith.<\/p>\n

\"\"
‘Surprised by Oxford’ stars Rose Reid and Ruairi O\u2019Connor. Image courtesy of Angel Studios.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe Angel Guild has always leaned into true stories that reflect deeper questions of life,\u201d said David Fischer, Director of Business Affairs and Acquisitions at Angel Studios. He added, \u201c\u2019Surprised by Oxford\u2019 explores what\u2019s most important and connects with viewers of all ages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Set in the iconic university town in England, the film has been described by as a \u201clove letter to Oxford.\u201d It tells the story of Caro Drake, a brilliant but emotionally guarded scholar who arrives at the prestigious university with a singular goal\u2014achieving her PhD. However, her life takes unexpected turns as she forms a deep and often tumultuous friendship with a charming young man, leading her to confront life\u2019s mysteries, her own vulnerability, and the possibility of love.<\/p>\n

Whitaker (\u201cThe Jesus Music\u201d) brings Weber\u2019s memoir to the screen after almost five years of thoughtful development. \u201cThe book was recommended to me by my mom and sister,\u201d Whitaker said. \u201cIt touched on so many of my interests, like British culture, Oxford, and C.S. Lewis. I fell in love with the story because it\u2019s not just a coming-of-age tale, it\u2019s also a romance and a spiritual journey\u2014all of those paths connected in such an interesting way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adapting a nearly 400-page memoir into a feature-length film was a challenge Whitaker embraced.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrying to find the film version of the story hiding in that large book was definitely difficult,\u201d he admits. Central to the film’s authenticity was Oxford itself. \u201cIf we couldn\u2019t shoot it on location in Oxford, we wouldn\u2019t have made the movie,\u201d Whitaker said. \u201cThere\u2019s no way to replicate the atmosphere. It\u2019s such a unique place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The production faced challenges shooting in Oxford, including logistical hurdles like limited parking and navigating the busy tourist and university schedules, but Whitaker felt the setting was crucial to capturing the heart of the story. \u201cWe were very fortunate to gain access to all the locations we needed, even during term time.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to its unique setting, \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d boasts a great cast, including Rose Reid (\u201cFinding You\u201d), Ruairi O\u2019Connor (\u201cThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It\u201d), Phyllis Logan (\u201cDownton Abbey\u201d), Simon Callow (\u201cFour Weddings and a Funeral\u201d), and Mark Williams (\u201cHarry Potter\u201d).<\/p>\n

\u201cRose was really charming and likable,\u201d Whitaker said, \u201cand I knew we needed someone like that for Caro, who could be unlikable at times but still draw people in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caro is a strong, complex woman navigating both her academic pursuits and personal growth, and Whitaker was conscious of how important it was to tell her story with care.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s so important to invite collaborators into the process, especially when you\u2019re telling a story about someone from a different perspective,\u201d he explained. \u201cI trusted Carolyn [Weber] throughout the process, and Rose was an incredible collaborator as well. I always made sure to listen when she or others had feedback on how Caro would react or behave in certain situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d is a love story, it also incorporates a discussion of faith. However, Whitaker was careful to avoid making the film feel like a traditional evangelical offering. \u201cI never wanted the story to feel heavy-handed,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a spiritual journey, but I wanted to explore that in a way that would resonate with a broader audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

The film weaves faith into the narrative through Caro\u2019s relationship with the writings of C.S. Lewis, specifically his idea of sehnsucht<\/em>\u2014a deep, almost sacred longing. \u201cLewis\u2019s concept of this longing for something beyond the self, this emotional connection to the divine through art and literature, felt like a really interesting way to explore faith in the film,\u201d Whitaker reflects. \u201cIt\u2019s ultimately about yearning for something more.\u201d<\/p>\n

By steering clear of overt sermonizing, Whitaker hoped to connect with audiences from all walks of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a lot of friends in the faith-based movie world, and they\u2019re doing great work, but for me, I wasn\u2019t interested in making a movie that felt like it was preaching to the choir. I think people can sense when the agenda of a film becomes more important than the story itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

As \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d enlargens its through Angel Studios, Whitaker hopes viewers will be moved by its authenticity and beauty. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to make Oxford look ugly,\u201d Whitaker joked. But it\u2019s clear the film is more than just a series of pretty shots. At its heart, \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d is a reflection on love, loss, faith, and the transformative power of human connection. For Whitaker, it\u2019s a deeply personal project, one that he hopes will resonate with audiences far beyond the beautiful British town.<\/p>\n

\u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d is available to stream exclusively on the Angel Studios app.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The charming new independent feature \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d is now available for streaming, exclusively on Angel Studios\u2019 platform. This heartfelt adaptation of Carolyn Weber\u2019s memoir, written and directed by Ryan Whitaker, tells a personal and poignant story that delves into themes of love, vulnerability, and faith. \u201cThe Angel Guild has always leaned into true stories…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":683,"featured_media":4140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[200],"tags":[1269,1266,1263],"class_list":["post-4137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-movie-news","tag-rose-reid","tag-ryan-whitaker","tag-surprised-by-oxford"],"yoast_head":"\nDirector Ryan Whitaker Talks Film Journey of 'Surprised by Oxford'<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=4137\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Director Ryan Whitaker Talks Film Journey of 'Surprised by Oxford'\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The charming new independent feature \u201cSurprised by Oxford\u201d is now available for streaming, exclusively on Angel Studios\u2019 platform. 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