C.S. Lewis: Through the Shadowlands

Starring:Joss Ackland
Studio: Vision Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Starring Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom. Winner of over a dozen prestigious awards including the International Emmy for Best Drama and two British Academy Awards.

He cried out, "Where is God when I really need him?" This film is about the agonizing spiritual crisis of C.S. Lewis when his wife died from cancer. The love, grief, pain, and sorrow were so shattering to Lewis that his basic Christian beliefs, magnificently communicated in his many books, were now called into serious doubt.

But he picked up the pieces and moved out of the depressing "shadowlands," realizing that "real life has not even begun yet."

Description

Starring Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom. Winner of over a dozen prestigious awards including the International Emmy for Best Drama and two British Academy Awards.

But he picked up the pieces and moved out of the depressing "shadowlands," realizing that "real life has not even begun yet."

Includes 90-minute television version and 73-minute abridged version.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and well-acted.......2007-03-14

After years of reading Lewis' literature, I was pleased to watch this movie about his relationship with Joy Gresham. (How thrilling she had the same name as I do!) I have always felt that because I read Lewis throughout my growing up years, his ideology and viewpoint have shaped the very way I think. I felt that this depiction of Lewis was true to the person he was, the way he thought, and the way he lived. For much of the movie he continually denies his love for Joy, not so much to others as to himself. Not being one to let emotions rule him, he had trouble recognizing the depth of his feeling for Joy. However, when he finally let himself see it, his love for her added depth and dimension to life that he hadn't known was missing, like suddenly seeing a picture in 3-D. Although that depth brings pain as well as pleasure, he comes to realize that not to have opened himself up to the pain of love is in some way not to have lived. The depiction of Lewis' loss made me weep, not just for him as for all of us who lose the ones we have let ourselves love. This movie was both an enjoyable experience and a challenge to accept the fullness that life offers. After all, God himself gave us life, not just to exist but to live fully.

Adding my voice to the consensus that this one is superior..........2007-03-08

Anthony Hopkins did indeed "sleepwalk" his way through the American version. One got a sort of sanitized love story which was, as another reviewer said, oblivious to the identity or character of C.S. Lewis.

There is a MAJOR tearjerker scene right at the end of this version, when Lewis is sitting with his stepson Douglas in the attic, and Douglas asks him if he believes in heaven....

Lewis gives some pat answer. The boy says "I don't believe in heaven... I just want to see her again"

and Lewis breaks into one of the most heartfelt sobs ever portrayed on screen (in this case, Joss Ackland - or Acklund?) and says, "So do I"...

It was this sort of breakthrough moment for the two of them.

I don't really think the usual compunction about giving endings away applies to this... I would hope it would stimulate some readers to make the effort and investment in this DVD. If you are an admirer of C.S. Lewis, it's a must.

Having been profoundly moved by this movie, when I went to see the Anthony Hopkins/Debra Winger thing I was disgusted. It's just a major studio going for the bucks, using the inherent pathos of the story, but not understanding it at all, or caring. The BBC version was much more focused on and aware of background, implications, details, etc... and they actually knew who C.S. Lewis was.

A Portrait of Love and Loss.......2007-03-01

"C.S. Lewis Through the Shadowlands" is a beautiful love story and a sensitive portrayal of grief. In this BBC television special, we find American poet Joy Gresham (Claire Bloom) writing to C.S. Lewis in England. As they discuss ideas about mythical doors and poetry, her letters bring about an intellectual friendship. I love the part where Joy talks about wandering into the wrong houses as she is looking for a home.

When C.S. Lewis asks her if she thinks she has found a home, she says she thinks she has. It is very cute and sentimental. The story progresses from a winter of Joy's marriage dying to the full blossoming of her love with C.S. Lewis. The focus of this movie is on the relationship and nothing much is said about any of the books, except there are a few conversations where Joy shows she has a complete knowledge of the books he has written.

If you have read "A Grief Observed" or if you have an interest in finding out more about C.S. Lewis' personal life, then this will introduce you to the warmth of Joy and the caring nature of C.S. Lewis.

If you are looking for information on the life and work of C.S. Lewis, may I recommend "The Magic Never Ends." It is truly fascinating and includes a list of his 38 books and more information on books written about his life.

~The Rebecca Review

Own Watch and give Thanks.......2007-01-19

Truth,ever stumbled with sorrow,ever wondered were God was when something so traggic happened to you.Here is a wonderful man being wonderfully honest. The second best love story.

A True and Moving Portrait .......2007-01-10

I found this film far superior to the one featuring Anthony Hopkins which pretty much ignored the influence Christianity had on Lewis and his impact on the Christian world..
Very Inspirational and Insightful..I have watched it five times...

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