Genesis: The Creation and the Flood
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
A movie depicting the stories of creation and the flood as related by a nomadic shepherd to his family (93 minutes).
Description
From DVD Cover
“The story begins with the creation of Man and Woman, the sin committed by Adam and Eve, and the temptation by the snake, which led to their banishment from Paradise. The story continues with the first crime committed by mankind, Cain’s murder of his brother, the condemnation of God, mankind’s corruption and evil, and God’s regret for having created earth. The choice of Noah, a just and upright man, to build the ark, the flood and its clearing the way for a new mankind, the pact of the eternal Covenant between God and all living beings, are told through the clear and simple words of an old nomad shepherd”.
Considerations
The Middle East actors and clothes appeared to be culturally appropriate. The scenery was beautiful and looked natural, although no one knows for sure what the landscape was like prior to the flood. There was a single narrator, except for the portion from the Song of Solomon that was included. The producers chose not to show the serpent in the garden, which was good. In depicting the increase of wickedness on earth there was a good scene showing lack of concern for a blind man. They had some nice shots of animals on the ark. Many parts seemed true to Scripture.
Limitations
The movie could be hard to understand by some people groups as it is a story within a story. It is about a nomadic shepherding family with a grandfather who is telling the stories from creation through the flood to his grandson or to the whole, extended family as they are seated in a tent or around a campfire. The stories from Genesis are then given as flashbacks during the talk. Progression of the story was often very slow, as the narrator talked slowly and there were times when the camera just focused on faces of the listeners. At other times there was no speaking but only views of scenery or activities. The Mid East background music was appropriate but as the movie dragged on it became annoying.
Following Adam and Eve’s sin, the story left out God’s curse on the woman, and the curse of the serpent was stated as there would be enmity between his descendants and the descendants of the woman. It failed to show the messianic promise “he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.”
Cain and Abel are shown as cavemen, not intelligent beings created in the image of God. After Abel was killed the movie shows a large group of people (about 50 adults) covering his body with stones. There is no explanation of where so many adults came from this early in time. Later Lamech is shown shouting to many that he would be avenged 77 times, yet Scripture only mentions him telling this to his wives.
The ark in the movie was small and did not look sea worthy. It looked like a raft with a building on it. Also, more than eight people entered the ark as a number of children were included. Some of the scenes depicting evil before the flood are questionable. One showed people partying and dancing at night but then flashed ahead to modern city lights and the quick scene of a modern sensual dancer, seeming to suggest that music and dancing is wicked. In addition, a portion from the Song of Solomon was included (as the thoughts of a girl) during the scenes depicting wickedness. It also included curses given to Moses much later, as well as prophecies and scriptural portions from Psalms, Proverbs, and other later prophets.
Guidelines for Use
Where to Obtain
Link to Producer or Source Organization
Cost
All four movies from The Bible Series (Genesis: The Creation and the Flood, Solomon, Jeremiah and Esther) can be purchased for $30 from Amazon.com
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
1994 by LUBE s.r.l.
Current copyright owner
Trimark Home Video
Other Information
Reviewed by
VMS Staff: Vernon W.
Date
April 2007
