NEW YORK OSV News – “Light of the World” (Salvation Poem Project), an animated recounting of the Gospel story, provides an excellent vehicle for delivering its fundamental message in an easily absorbed manner. Although the film includes material that would be too frightening for tots, more mature youngsters are its appropriate target audience.
Told from the perspective of a youthful John the Evangelist (voice of Benjamin Jacobson), this generally jaunty journey through the tale of salvation necessarily has its more serious moments. Among these are a brief look back at the fall of Adam and Eve as well as scenes establishing the oppressive nature of the Roman regime in the Holy Land of the first century.
Against this historical backdrop, John – here a well-meaning but impetuous and hot-tempered lad – undergoes a conversion experience once he comes under the influence of Jesus (voice of Ian Hanlin). Becoming one of the Twelve, he witnesses the promised Messiah’s miracles and takes his teaching, some of it conveyed through parables, to heart.
From the outset, John and his brother James’ (voiced by Dylan Leonard) parents, Salome (voice of Erin Mathews) and Zebedee (voice of Dave Pettitt), represent the opposite poles of steadfast faith and skepticism, respectively, with John uncertain, at times, which of their examples to follow. (Spoiler alert, Mom wins.)
The theology underlying directors John J. Schafer and Tom Bancroft’s endearing, humor-tinged drama is patchy from a Catholic perspective. Peter (voice of Sam Darkoh) is presented, albeit in passing, as the rock on which Jesus will rely. And his post-Resurrection reconciliation with the Savior, healing the wound of his denial of Jesus, is mutely but effectively portrayed.
The Virgin Mary (voiced by Rebekah Schafer) is also front and center, endowed with greater insight than those around her and more courageous than others in the face of Jesus’ condemnation to the Cross. A tableau touchingly reminiscent of Michelangelo’s Pieta follows his death.
Yet, as scripted by David and Drew Armstrong, the movie displays a distinctly evangelical stamp. Thus the sacraments get short shrift. The institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, for example, feels almost casual, with the Apostles not sharing in the one loaf and chalice given them by Jesus but instead consuming portions of bread and wine already at their places.
As for baptism, the situation is more complex. John the Baptist (voice of Jesse Inocalla) is an important character in the narrative (in a recurring joke, his eccentric fondness for eating insects grosses out both young John and Jesus). And the ritual of cleansing he practices is accurately described as symbolic rather than sacramental.
But the fact that Jesus eventually elevated baptism into a sacrament – and established it as the gateway into membership of the new covenant in his blood – is ignored. Instead, recitation of the poetic prayer from which the picture’s production company takes its name is shown, in a climactic scene, as sealing the deal on a character’s desire to become a Christian.
Parents may want to make these lacunae the basis for a family conversation. They’ll also want to note, in advance, that the Passion is depicted too graphically for small fry. Yet the bottom line remains that, taken as a whole, “Light of the World” can serve as a valuable catechetical tool – as well as an enjoyable viewing experience – for preteens and their elders.
The film contains scenes of suffering and death and characters in peril. The OSV News classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG – parental guidance suggested. Some material may be inappropriate for children.
John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on X@JohnMulderig1.