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A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2011.123  (2011), NR [Very Lite PG*] (1hr 25.5min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Production (US): Hallmark, Believe Pictures, Odyssey Networks Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Director(s): Michael Landon, Jr. Producer(s): Mithcell Galin, Carey Nelson Burch, Cindy Bond, Maura Dunbar, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr. Teleplay by: Chris Easterly Novel by: Beverly Lewis Cinematography/Camera: Christo Bakalov Music: Lee Holdridge Film Editing: David Kiern Casting: Victoria Burrows, Scot Boland, Corrigan & Johnson Production Design: Jennifer O'Kelly Viewed on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD  In this film directed by one of the faith-based film masters, Michael Landon, Jr. ("Little Joe" of Bonanzaª fame), a 20 year old Amish girl, Katie Lapp (Danielle Panabaker - featured on the poster) is ignored by all her community - she is shunned. One of the features of the CAP analysis model is that it makes no judgments as to whether a sinful demonstration or display is justified. We simply use prescribed investigation standards to tell you what is there - you decide whether it is fit. Such is especially true for this film. Maybe the rebellion and defiance demonstrated by Katie, the quintessential star of the film, is indeed justified but you will have to decide that for yourself and for whatever audience with which you might share this film. The Shunning is a well knit tapestry of Amish life with many quality performances to be sure. But the common thread and the engine for the story is youthful defiance. Whether the defiance is "justified" in your eyes is not my call to make. Please be aware of the risk that youthful viewers will likely see the defiance portrayed as victory over "parental control." Because of so many repeated demonstrations of defiance and rebellion this film earned R-equivalence in Impudence/Hate (I). All other investigation areas found the content to be G-equivalent but the sheer number of examples of defiance and rebellion made the magnitude of the impudence content of this film easily equivalent to the magnitude of the same in some R-rated features, not because of the severity or intensity of any individual examples of rebellion and defiance but because of the sheer number of them (12.0 per hour). See our CAP Rule of 1000 for more information on this content loading technique. Teen Katie is introduced to defiance by teen Daniel Fisher (David Topp) by him teaching her to play the guitar and sing ... and kiss ... in secret of course. Whether we see these as "normal", all of them are against the Amish community standards whether we agree or not. So the image projected by such behavior in such a setting is clearly defiance. Katie and Daniel are now in love. Soon Daniel drowns and Katie feels she is left all alone with no more contact with that which made her feel "alive." Three years pass and Katie reluctantly agrees to marry the Hickory Hollow, PA Bishop, widower John Beiler (Burgess Jenkins) with two young sons, Jacob (Jackson Wyatt Laner) and Hickory John (Dalton Parrish). But as the marriage day approaches, Katie finds that she is not the biological daughter of the Lapps, Samuel (Bill Oberst, Jr.) and Rebecca (Sandra Van Natta): that for twenty years the Lapps raised her as their own child like her brother, Benjamin (Jason Laughlin). Katie's biological mother, the wealthy Laura Bennett (Sherry Stringfield) who gave up Katie to the Lapps is dying and feels she must see Katie, er, Katherine one more time. At the time Katie was born Laura was 16 year old Laura Mayfield (Alexa Yeames). So, Katie is Katherine Mayfield by birth. Coupled with Katie's history of strong-willed defiance regarding her guitar and singing, Katie uses every measure of defiance she could calculate to get answers. It is because of her defiance and disrespect that Katie is shunned. While shunned, no one can speak to her, eat with her or have anything to do with her. Shunning is a last-resort Amish discipline technique to guide the offender back to humility. One question that may be generated by this film is "what is a family?" Is it biology or is it love and building a life together that makes a family? Being the father of eight adopted children I side with the later. With adopting eight children I can say with credibility that the love I have for my adopted kids is just as real and just as deep as my love for my two biological sons. Why am I telling you this? In part because it fits with the story but more so to put in a plug for the expression "Choose adoption, not abortion." Following are brief discussions of the content per individual CAP investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 88 out of 100 A medical emergency, implied suicide and an illegal baby giveaway are the only matters that apply to the violence and/or criminal content of this film. Impudence/Hate (I) - 34 out of 100 There is no profanity in the entire 85.5 minutes of the show. But the instances of arrogance, rebellion and defiance and disrespect are so many that the content found applicable to this investigation area is equivalent to the same content in some R-rated films. [Isa. 30:1] The score in this investigation area is the reason for the red CAPCon Alert light atop this page. Click on it for an explanation. Sexual Immorality (S) - 96 out of 100 The only matter that applies to the standards of this investigation area is the immoral sex (unmarried sex) that brought about the pregnancy of 16 year old Laura. The baby is not immoral, the act that caused the pregnancy is. [1 Cor. 7:1 - 2, Hebr. 13:4] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 There are no instances of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs in this film. Offense to God (O) - 96 out of 100 The only cinematic demonstration that applies to this investigation area found is the case of Daniel using smooth talk and vain philosophy to lead Katie astray and into rebellion and defiance. [Col 2:8, Rom. 16:18] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There are no portrayals of murder or suicide in this film. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 88 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - 34 out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 96 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 100 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 96 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |