Religion in Stories, Or Why "A Wrinkle in Time" Wasn't a Great Movie

Last Friday I got to do a school visit at Saratoga Shores Elementary School!

I love school visits. They're the best part of being a writer (other than the actual writing). I love visiting the kids and talking to them and getting their interesting questions (like "Will Jeremy and Becca get married one day?" BWAHAHA! Maybe.), and I love their enthusiasm for the books they like, even if they're not mine.

So, when that enthusiasm is applied to my books, I have a great day. The class did a reader's theater of Under Locker and Key, which they had for read-aloud, so they all knew the story. I got to sit in and watch, taping it all with the other proud parents. It was such a special experience to see the class act out my characters; it was a real honor, and I thought they were all talented actors.

Then I gave my presentation, and I didn't even have time to do a reading because the class was so active and involved in my presentation and they had so many questions. They were a great class, so thank you, Saratoga Shores, and may I see you again one day!

And now, on to my main topic. Recently I saw A Wrinkle in Time, the movie. (See previous blog posts for that review.) Even more recently, I rewatched The Prince of Egypt and reread A Wrinkle in Time, the book, and started to think about these films and book and what makes them special, or not special.

A Wrinkle in Time, the book by Madeleine L'Engle, is a great book, and I mean that by all definitions of the word "great." It's a classic, and it is a powerful read. Likewise, the film The Prince of Egypt is a great movie. It has recently been adapted as a stage musical, and I have yet to find someone who doesn't think it did a great job with the story of Moses. More often, I find people who think it is also a classic in its own right (though this is Utah, so perspective is a little different than mainstream).

But the film A Wrinkle in Time? It was...okay. Good, sure. Fun to watch. But next to the book, it is a sad, pale imitation. It is not great. It lacks the power that the book has to make you feel and think things deeper and broader than you've thought them before. Sure, they talk about timespace, but so do a lot of movies. That movie, had I seen it without reading the book, would have been fun, but would not have rocked my world the way the book did.

So much was cut from the book to make the movie. SO. MUCH. And, rereading the book, the things that got cut the most were religious in nature: references to scripture, or religious figures, and even themes that are also religious. A Wrinkle in Time is a rather Christian book.

And, honestly, I think that's what gave it its power.

Yes, I am Christian, and yes, I value religion in art. I love The Prince of Egypt as a religious film along with its storytelling and musical qualities. But I also think that religion, any religion, has a power to it. Religion has shaped people and nations; it has spurred great acts of good and also acts of evil. It has become part of who many, many people are. Looking at it from an objective, secular view, it has power. Looking at it from a religious angle (and many people are still religious these days), it has more.

The Prince of Egypt is based on a religious text, and handles it well. Artistic license was taken, but they're upfront about it, and they researched their source material heavily to best reflect a story that three religions consider scripture. They did not cut out religion, but instead respected it, left it where it was, and allowed it to fill their story with power. And, personally, I think it worked. Compare it to a movie like Exodus (with Christian Bale) and see the difference.

But Disney cut out the religion. They stripped the references and even the themes were watered down. I understand why they did it; Disney is a massive company and they don't want to offend anyone, and someone would have been offended. But in doing so, they cut out the power that religion brought to the story and turned it into just another kid's adventure movie.

A Wrinkle in Time is a daring book. It was rejected by 26 publishers because it was considered "too different" and because it dealt with such heavy themes, like good and evil, that publishers didn't think it was suitable for children.

But it did get published, and now it's a Newberry Medalist. It is great and will be remembered. The movie, while good, won't be. Not for its story. If the book dared to knock on the Door of Truth, the film looked at it for a while and then walked away.

What does this all mean? I think Disney and Hollywood, and other writers, are afraid. Afraid to deal with complex issues and religion, because they don't want to offend. I understand that. But I think, in this way, they are doing themselves a disservice by removing a huge part of human culture, and something that matters to many individual people, from their stories. Religion has power, and it has many good themes to explore. But if storytellers are too afraid to allow it into their tales, when it has an appropriate place there, then they are essentially telling decaffeinated stories.

Religion is hard to handle; anything potent is. But it can be done, with respect and hard work, and it can make some truly great, not just good, art. If writers are courageous enough to try.