Parents Television Council Reviews

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C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia

By Josh Shirlen

The Hallmark Channel presents C.S. Lewis Beyond Narnia, a biographical look at the life of world renowned author and philosopher C.S. Lewis. Lewis, played by Anton Rodgers, along with some of the leading C.S. Lewis experts, provide commentary as the movie flashes back to events that helped him grow in knowledge, faith, and love. Filled with trial and tribulation, achievement and accomplishment, this inspiring story explores the genius of C.S. Lewis and the events that lead him to write The Chronicles of Narnia.

The story starts with C.S. "Jack" Lewis growing up as a young boy in Ireland in 1905. His childhood is described as a joyous one with the love of his brother, his parents, and a nanny who would read to him. Unfortunately, the joy would come to an abrupt end with the death of his mother due to cancer. Jack and his bother are shipped off to boarding school in England where they would experience some of the darkest days of their lives. It was at this school that the inspiration for Narnia began. Jack recalls thinking that at his school it was "always winter but never Christmas."

As a young man he studied under the mentorship of William T. Kirkpatrick who prepared him to enter Oxford University by teaching him the principals of philosophy and logic. His studies would come to a halt when Lewis was sent to fight in WWI. He emerges from battle having avoided death. Back at home Jack makes incredible achievements at Oxford. He is referred to as "the providential man" as his accomplishment was so great that his peers were certain a higher power had helped him.

It was during his time at Oxford that Lewis would start one of the most meaningful relationships of his life. He befriended J.R.R. Tolkien (author of The Lord of the Rings) who would share the gospel of Jesus Christ with him, challenge his atheism, and plant the seed that would ultimately become The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, arguably C.S. Lewis's greatest masterpiece.

During WWII Lewis and his brother took in four children from London who fled the city for safety. Although the presence of four young children was a distraction for Jack, he was ultimately inspired by their presence and used them as the main characters for his first children's book, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

The biographical account of his life ends with his marriage to Joy Davidman Gresham (Diane Venora). When she dies of cancer C.S. once again battles with feelings toward God, but ultimately comes to the conclusion that although he is able to understand just about anything he wants, he will never fully understand the complexity of God, and that he must simply have faith.

C.S. Lewis Beyond Narnia is an inspiring movie intended for the whole family. The struggles Lewis faces are common to all people, and the depiction of this brilliant man as he copes, learns, and grows is heartwarming and encouraging. Free of foul language, sexual content, and violence, watching the Hallmark Channel's story of C.S. Lewis is certain to be a blessing to the entire family.

Hallmark Channel, December 9, 2005 8:00pm EST

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