Before Harry Potter, there were four children on a magical train ride to the English countryside. Except the train wasn’t magic, and Professor Kirke’s country house wasn’t really the destination, was it? The 2005 movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, however, is more magical and indeed more meaningful than Harry Potter. I’ve tried to watch this around the Christmas holidays since it came out in cinemas. And before that, I read the books, The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis.
We just re-watched it on Disney+, marveling at how well Lewis, and the movie’s director, Andrew Adamson, captured the agony and terror of the crucifixion. Our Bible study group just finished last week, looking at the death of Jesus Christ through the four gospels, ending in John’s account. As my husband and I watched the movie, we remembered talking about the humiliation of Jesus being stripped of his clothing – as Aslan was shaved of his mane before Jadis slayed him; about only the women (and the disciple whom Jesus loved) standing witness to His last words, and His last breath – as Susan and Lucy watched in horror while the hellish creatures of the underworld clamoured for Aslan’s blood; about the temple curtain being torn in two – as the stone table cracked. Studying the crucifixion of Jesus simultaneously as Advent began reminded us of the deeper meaning (or Deeper Magic, as it might be called in Narnia) of Christmas: that the child who was born in a manger, would take on the punishment that was meant for you and me on the cross.
On a lighter, yet also meaningful, note: yes, there is a Christmas scene in this movie. It’s short, but it contains so much. Santa, with his sleigh and reindeer, transporting a humongous sack of presents, appears in the cursed winter of Narnia – a winter that had been “always winter, never Christmas” – for the first time in about a hundred years. This Santa (or Father Christmas, as in the book) imparts precious, practical presents: the healing essence of the fire-flower, a horn that summons help, a sword for the High King of Narnia. And in the movie, the existence of this Santa was also doubted by the older kids, until they encountered him!
The other wondrous thing about Father Christmas in The Chronicles of Narnia is that he serves Aslan, as in a prophet like John the Baptist preparing the way for the Messiah. Father Christmas brings with him gifts, the arrival of spring, and a message of hope that Aslan is on the move. Now isn’t that a logically Christian way to explain Santa?
And just like Christmas, this story – book and movie – culminates in the triumphant resurrection and return of Aslan. Joy to the world!
Of course, we will also still watch Love Actually.
– Chiquit Brammall
A Christmas movie more magical than Harry P
