Recently, director Michael Mann's 1992 film, The Last of the Mohicans, released on BluRay.
Perfect opportunity to watch it again.
It surprises me to recall that this movie garnered only one Oscar nomination, for sound of all things.
It surprises me that so many people have never watched this movie, or even heard of it!
Thus, today, I remind those of you who have seen it, and highlight for those of you who haven’t, that this film is indeed worth your time.
The Last of the Mohicans is a classic novel written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826 about the conflict between American Colonials and the British on one side, and the French and Native Americans on the other. However, the story is not primarily political. That’s only the backdrop to a beautiful and poignant love story.
I admit that I’ve not read the novel (yet). So I do not know how it differs from the movie. Right now, though, that doesn’t matter, because the movie based on the book has enough to offer on its own.
Nathaniel Hawkeye, played by the amazing Daniel Day-Lewis, is an orphaned American colonial raised by Mohican Native Americans. Cora, brought to life by Madeleine Stowe, is the proper English daughter of the British colonel. Their vastly different worlds collide when they are both caught in the crossfire of the war. A particular Huron, Magua, seeks revenge for the British attack and slaying of his village and family, targeting Cora and her sister to fulfill his bloodlust. But Nathaniel and his two Mohican relatives interfere, rescuing the English sisters and their escort, Major Heyward, and agree to guide them through the wilderness to the fort where their father fights against a French siege. Somewhere between bullets flying and Indian war parties tracking their every move, Nathaniel and Cora fall in love. The outcome in such dire circumstances, though, is critically uncertain.
I could spout about the cinematography, acting, and score, which are all superb, but it’ll sound like a typical review.
What I like most about this movie is that it makes me think of the cosmic romance between Jesus, the perfect and eternal Lover, and his beloved – us.
Cora faces the wilderness, a harsh, dangerous world that is leagues away from what she is used to. Death pursues her, and she has no defense. If Hawkeye hadn’t shown up to rescue her, she’d have died. From that point on, though he protects her from a lot, they still face dangers and trials. And at one point, he has to leave in order to protect her best. During that scene, he implores her to stay alive, and promises that he will find her. (Gives me chills every time.)
Although God never leaves us, life gets tough enough to make us feel alone and maybe even unloved. But God allows us to endure hard times to increase our faith, to give us an opportunity to trust and choose Him no matter what we face. During that scene under the waterfall when Hawkeye tells Cora that he’ll find her, I picture Jesus gripping my shoulders and imploring me to trust Him, to hold on to faith, to know that He’s holding on to me, to believe that no matter how dire my circumstances seem, He finds me and draws me out of the fire.
Other moments throughout the movie, such as when Nathaniel offers his life in exchange for Cora’s, conjure pictures of my perfect Lover and how recklessly and completely He loves me.
Hope you get the chance to watch (or re-watch) The Last of the Mohicans.
Happy Monday, Dry Ground friends!
1 comments:
I've seen parts of the movie, but haven't sat down and watched everything of it. Might have to throw that on my Netflicks list, though....
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