{"id":1453,"date":"2016-12-15T02:47:11","date_gmt":"2016-12-15T02:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lifeatthemovies\/?p=1453"},"modified":"2016-12-15T23:09:48","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T23:09:48","slug":"utopia-golfers-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lifeatthemovies\/2016\/12\/utopia-golfers-paradise.html","title":{"rendered":"Utopia and golfer’s paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, I happened to channel surf to a Christian channel. A Christian or faith-based movie happened to be starting so I decided to watch it. So the film was Seven Days in Utopia<\/em> (2011, USA).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about golfer\u2019s paradise. One may long for golfing success which would be paradise. The money, the fame, the adulation. In other words, utopia, where life is great. First Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black) has to get there if he gets into the professional circuit and make a go of it.<\/p>\n

He doesn\u2019t, which causes a breakdown of a sort. Disillusionment is a common theme in Christian stories as it is the springboard to faith in God to give the disillusioned hope.<\/p>\n

It seems to be manipulative\u2014just make the guy fall and let him rise again with God in a better state than before. For some people, the walk of life and the Christian walk might not always turn out better. It\u2019s common faith-based material, though.<\/p>\n

However, rising from the ashes with God in the middle of life is also true. God can lift the disillusioned out of their downheartedness which causes a life change. It does happen. It may sound a bit clich\u00e9d, but God changing lives is true.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Utopia<\/a>
Searching for a great life. Perhaps that is utopia, but is there another way of having it? Faith-based films are telling us there is a more satisfying way. (Image sourced via google images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Christian film producers know God can be people\u2019s anchor in life even if people go through stuff and answers are found. It’s a hopeful message.<\/p>\n

Though I did not feel Luke’s uplift as I should have. Aren\u2019t we supposed to feel the protagonist\u2019s journey from despair to hope? I didn\u2019t, but Luke’s journey is still true and worthwhile.<\/p>\n

The father figure<\/h4>\n

Seven Days in Utopia<\/em> stars an actor I am familiar with from his work in Tender Mercies, The Apostle and Apocalypse Now, and others. He\u2019s Robert Duvall.<\/p>\n

Robert Duvall\u2019s performance is authoritative and fatherly as the older single man who takes a young golfer under his wing and mentors him.<\/p>\n

The setting is Utopia, Texas. The seven days in the film\u2019s title refers to Johnny Crawford\u2019s (Duvall) day-by-day mentoring of disillusioned golfer Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black) who is dealing with a failure. Johnny mentors him with unconventional lessons on how to better play golf.<\/p>\n

What turns up are two take away points.<\/p>\n

Themes<\/h4>\n

One thing Luke is told is not to be distracted by sideshows that people may prop up. These may be causal remarks. A remark may put you off your game, but does not have to trouble you. This goes straight to one\u2019s foundation. Once you are secure in yourself, nothing can shake you.<\/p>\n

The other thing Luke learns is that playing sport to a higher standard does not fulfill the soul. You need more than golf to satisfy that need.<\/p>\n

Seven Days in Utopia<\/em> says utopia is more than a great life like winning on the pro golfing circuit. Life can be wonderful with God in your heart. This is what speaks loudest. The film\u00a0is about what it means to be human and what the soul needs\u2014with a strong faith-based depth to that.<\/p>\n

It seems that this subject is rarely covered in any kind of film. However, in recent times, Tracks and Hector and the Search for Happiness are two films about searches for the deeper life. The theme is part and parcel of quite a few faith-based films because faith film producers know where the answer lies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recently, I happened to channel surf to a Christian channel. A Christian or faith-based movie happened to be starting so I decided to watch it. So the film was Seven Days in Utopia (2011, USA). It\u2019s about golfer\u2019s paradise. One may long for golfing success which would be paradise. The money, the fame, the adulation.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":602,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,344,58,320],"tags":[28,26,34,33,46,165,8,10,54,41,185,24,64,189,25],"class_list":["post-1453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dramas","category-faith-based-films","category-outdoorssports-films","category-spiritual","tag-beauty","tag-change","tag-connect","tag-drama","tag-existentialism","tag-faith-based-films","tag-film","tag-film-commentaries","tag-freedom","tag-friendship","tag-inspirational-film","tag-problems","tag-sport","tag-sports-films","tag-survival-movies"],"yoast_head":"\nUtopia and golfer's paradise - Life at the Movies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One may long for golfing success which would be paradise. The money, the fame, the adulation. 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