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Review: To Save A Life

By Patti Gibbons on February 07 2010

Have you ever longed for a movie to be made by a Christian that depicted life in a much more realistic way? Where people who began a relationship with Christ didn’t suddenly have it all together, score the winning touchdown, get the girl, have their parents relationship suddenly get better and then find themselves tiptoeing through the tulips in a pain free life? If this describes you then the movie To Save a Life is just what you have been looking for.

I had the opportunity to go to a special screening of this movie for youth workers and I must say that I went into it very skeptical. I expected it to be just like almost every other movie that has been made by Christians. As the first swear word that was uttered I had a feeling that this could possibly be that type of a movie I have been waiting for.

The movie starts off in a cemetery where a young man, Roger, is being buried and you see another young man named, Jake, is standing a little ways off. Roger’s mom approaches Jake and asks him if he knew this was going to happen and when was the last time that Jake had talked to Roger. Jake freezes and we see flashbacks in his head of when he and Roger were younger. Then just as the mom walks off he utters, “Not since our freshman year”.

From there we learn more about Jake’s life and how he is the star athlete, has the girl and will soon be graduating from high school and heading off to play basketball at a major university. However, as we see there is something that just isn’t right with his life and we see the turmoil throughout that he seems oblivious to.

One day, he finds himself on a curbside with no one to turn to or call except for this youth pastor, Chris, he bumped into earlier that handed him his business card. Chris comes and picks up Jake from this party and starts a relationship with him that will eventually change both of their lives.

Chris never has all the answers for Jake but what he does have is time and love, so he gives as much of it as he can to him. Jake eventually starts becoming a regular member of Chris’ youth group and helps revolutionize the group from one that is going to church, to one that is becoming the church. You even see Acts 2 being acted out in one particular scene on the school grounds during lunch.

I would recommend this movie for every youth worker out there to take their group to, because it depicts not only the life of teens in a very real way; but because it will hopefully help your group to see their greater role on this planet and it will hopefully also helped you reach some teens who are not Christ-followers yet. And, yes, there is some swearing, drinking and a “sex scene” (where nothing is shown but you know what happened) in this movie so be warned. However, nothing is gratuitous even though it did get a PG-13 rating.

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Comments

From albert abeka sampson on February 20, 2010

i am a youth oganezer in my chruch and i won,t you to sand something about youth oganezeing thank you and your book a good thank you and GOD bless you amen

From Rob Marquess on March 10, 2010

Wonderful movie and our group is now in week 5 of a 7 week study based on the movie. Our group has really responded well this study, emphasizing that we are never more like Christ than when we are reaching out to the lonely and hurting. We’ve had record numbers of youth coming on Wednesdays to this study. Praise God for using this movie to make a difference in the lives of our teens!

From Art Ziegler on March 12, 2010

I am one of three youth leaders at our church. We took our group of about 20 to this movie. It is a shame that this movie was not advertised in the media. When we saw it (on a Sunday after church) there were only about 60 people in the theater. That includes our group. This movie not only points out situations missed by teens, but also youth leaders. After the movie, we asked the group if the characters in the movie reminded them of any of their friends or other they knew. On average they each came up with about 5 people. Many not the same people. These people have been added to our lengthening prayer list and they are making a concerted effort to let them know they do matter.

From Kylese on March 17, 2010

AWESOME MOVIE! My youth pastor is doing a series on this movie now….This particular movie, is like an avenue digging into the hearts of these young peoople that try to hide their wounds of pain. I sincerely urge you, whoever have’nt seen it, to GO SEE IT!! Your life will be changed 4ever…Love u all, Brothers & Sisters Of The Gospel!!!

From Mr. Bill on March 30, 2010

God said ” for I AM the LORD that heals you”
Jehovah-Rapha - “I AM the Lord that heals you”
Jehovah = to exist or be ( I AM )
Rapha = to restore, to heal, to make healthful. ( that heals you ) Psalm 103:2-5
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not ALL His benefits:
3 Who forgives ALL your iniquities,
Who heals ALL your diseases,
4 Who REDEEMS your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is RENEWED like the eagle’s.

This movie is awesome! Had over 40 people watch this movie and it touched every person in some way or another! :) our God is a God who forgives, heals, redeems, satisfies, renews! This movie is powerful!

From Jane on April 09, 2010

I can’t say that I feel the same about this movie. I appreciated the improvement in quality as a Christian movie: the acting was better than past Christian movies and it wasn’t overly idealistic. However, it seems we have a tendency to throw in as many issues as we can into a movie. It seemed as though everything that could go wrong did. Additionally, I would not be so keen on taking a group of young people to a movie that shows someone cutting themselves. It can be very triggering to a the many teens that struggle with this issue.

From Bill on April 09, 2010

Jane,
For my teens, it seems as though everything that could go wrong has. We face those things weekly. We have 17 girls expecting. 30 some kids who admit they have or still do cut. 80% have tried drugs, 90% drink. more than 75% have been active . I thought the movie was a little tame and could have tried to add even a few more things. I have notes from over 60 teens that told me that they recieved the healing God had for them. from our teaching and watching of this movie!

From marie on July 17, 2010

I too thought this movie was a great improvement in the area of Christian movies - I look forward to the day we don’t have to say at all “that was pretty good…for a Christian movie” That said, I appreicated the realistic characters, and the ways the main character was shown working through things…I think it’s a great conversation starter and definitely points kids to God & church/youth pastors as a good option. I would recommend it for 7 - 10th graders probably, in general. It depends on the particular youth, their background, maturity, etc. But I would say that most seniors in High School would probably find it a little predictable and not be as impressed, but anyone in a youth group could get something out of it, like I said, a great conversation starter!

Review: To Save A Life

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