It's+a+Wonderful+Life

[|New York Times article]

In 1919 there was a deadly worldwide flu pandemic Great Depression began with a crash in 1929 Draftees were ranked according to physical qualifications – 1A meant fine, 4F meant one was unfit Japanese kamikaze pilots would divebomb ships, began late in the war It’s a Wonderful Life was filmed just after WW2, which is when the films starts and ends

1. “They’re not my children.” “This is a business, not a charity ward.”

Two quotes representative of Potter’s thought – I could have picked from dozens of others. Do you find his manner of thought prevalent (if you do not know what that word means, feel free to look it up – tis a good one – I do not mean to be a jerk if you don’t know, but just think you might remember it better if you look it up than if I tell you) in our world today? Also, and somewhat connected, do you find Potter a realistic bad guy?

2. I like Jimmy Stewart a lot in this film – I feel part of why he is beloved is something about his face – he looks very earnest to me – other actors I might compare him to (in terms of inherent likability) would be Paul Newman or Tom Hanks. Do you agree? What (I am kind of thinking of some physical and/or inherent trait) makes actors (or people for that matter) likeable?

3. “I want to do something big, something important.”

George Bailey makes this claim early in the film – what might be the danger of such a statement (hint: it might have something to do with pride)? On the flipside, what is the danger of not wanting to do something big and important? Do you think George does something big and important in the film?

4. I would argue (rather persuasively I think) that this is not just a Christmas film – why do you think I might say this?

5. This movie is my all-time favorite – second place is pretty far behind. The reason I love it so is that it is the best example (dare I say work of art) that I know of that shows the value of each and every individual life. What movie, music, or book does that best for you?

6. One possible response to question four (or reason to argue against me) deals with the protagonist of the film planning on killing himself – what do you think drives someone to consider ending her or his own life?

7. One thing George tells Mary when he visits her house is that, “I want to do what I want to do.” Do you think most people feel this way? Do you think George does? Do you think it ends up working out well for those who feel that way?

8. I find one of the greatest challenges in life to be discovering God’s will for us, deciphering what our vocation might be. Of course, the challenge does not end there – even when we discover it (if we are fortunate enough to discover our vocation), I think a common reaction is to rebel against it. How do you see George rebel against his calling? Why do you think he does that? Feel free to reference question seven in your answer.

9. Do you believe in George’s turn to despair when Potter takes the $8000?

10. Last, and certainly not least, this movie is often described as inspiring – I sometimes cringe when I hear that word. What is it about “inspiring” works that bother people, myself included? It is a fine line between inspiring and corny. Why is it so much harder to make a movie about a good woman or man than a bad one?