Movie Clip Discussions

Babe: Pig in the City

September 24, 2009

Dynamic Image

(Universal, 1998)
Main Point of Discussion: We must show compassion to those who show us contempt.

The Movie Clip:
Babe’s back! In the sequel to the hit kid’s movie, Babe leaves the farm and heads to the wild life of the city where he meets a whole host of new characters and adventures. Unfortunately for Babe, he thinks his sheepherding abilities and the simple life of the farm will translate into his new setting, but they don’t.

When he gets to the city, he stays in the only motel that accepts pets. Throughout his time under the streetlights, Babe befriends and helps many different kinds of animals who have been tossed aside or abused or neglected by humans. His loving heart saves the day in more ways than one.

The movie was rated PG and G by the MPAA because of some scenes of implied animal harm, one of which makes for the climax of the clip being used in this discussion.

Introducing the Movie Clip:
If you’ve seen the Babe movies, and I’m talking about the ones with the cute pig, you know the poor swine gets himself into more trouble than any four-legged animal should. I want to show you a clip from Babe: Pig in the City where Babe gets tricked by a few of the monkeys into “herding” a Doberman Pinscher and Pit Bull. The dogs, just being dogs, chase Babe through the city streets trying to kill him until something quite unexpected happens. Let’s see what that is, and how Babe responds.

Scene script: (This scene is several minutes long and without much dialogue. A description of the action and key dialogue will be given.)

BEGIN CLIP AT 38 MINUTES and 07 SECONDS.

(The scene opens with Babe being hungry and asking the monkeys for some help.)

Babe: Hey. Hey. Wait! Wait a minute! Where’s the food? I have to eat!

Big Monkey: Hey! Keep your voice down.

Babe: I’ll do anything, absolutely anything….

Little Monkey: Ahh…go porkinate. What can you do? You don’t even have any hands.

Babe: What can I do? Lots.

Little Monkey: Yeah right.

Babe: Uh, sheep. I can herd sheep.

Female Monkey: Go home, sweetie. You’re making a spectacle of yourself.

Big Monkey: Wait a momentum. I’m thinking I might have some of those sheep for him to herd.

Babe: You do?

Big Monkey: Uh huh. I’ll show you. Right here, behind the Food-O-Rama is where they keep the sheep. I’m gonna open this hole. Open sez-a-Bob. They’re in there.

Babe: Border Leicester or Scottish Blackface?

Big Monkey: Pit Bull and a Doberman Pinscher. Very exotic breeds.

Babe: Uh, where do you want me to herd them?

Big Monkey: That’s up to you. Just keep them occupied till we get the necessaries.

Babe: Okey-dokey. Hello? Hello? Anybody home? (Loud snarling is the only answer.) Uh, anybody else?

Doberman: You must have a very thin grasp on reality. Unless of course, you are suicidal.

Babe: Um, I’m just looking for some sheep.

Doberman: I warned you.

(At this point, the pit bull comes rushing out of the darkness and snips at Babe. Babe flees and the two dogs break free and begin the chase.)

(Babe keeps running around the streets in front of the house with the two dogs chasing him. The Doberman breaks free of the chain, but the Pit Bull has it strapped to its neck. Both dogs keep pursuing Babe in spite of all the calamity that follows the chase.)

(The chase finally ends when Babe jumps off a small bridge into the water and the Pit Bull gets tangled in the chain. The dog is dangling off the bridge by the chain until the chain slowly slips and the dog starts to drown. Babe, now safe, watches the struggling animal. Moved with compassion for the animal that had just been chasing him, Babe jumps into the water and saves the Pit Bull.)

END CLIP AT 47 MINUTES and 00 SECONDS.

Transitional statement:
In a fairly dramatic way, the hunter became the helpless in this scene we just watched. Instead of killing Babe, the Pit Bull became dependent upon Babe for his very life! What’s really interesting to me is that Babe didn’t just stand by and watch the poor dog drown like all the other animals were willing to do. He took action to save the dog’s life even though the dog had tried to take his life! This is the kind of love for enemies Jesus calls us to show. Let’s spend the next few moments talking about that.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we begin, let’s all take a moment and share our names as well as the biggest city we’ve ever been in… and airports-only doesn’t count!

ASK A FEW: What do you think was going through Babe’s mind while the pit bull and Doberman were chasing him?

ASK A FEW: Why do you think Babe had compassion on the poor dog?

ASK A FEW: Has anyone here ever been in a situation where you could show compassion to an enemy and did? If so, quickly share.

ASK A FEW: If we’re honest, most of us in here probably would not show compassion to an enemy. In fact, most people in general do not show compassion, especially to an enemy. Why is that, do you think?

ASK A FEW: What benefits are there in showing compassion? What benefits are there in showing revenge?

Read the following passage:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

ASK SOMEONE: What does this biblical passage tell us to clothe ourselves with?

ASK A FEW: Which of these “pieces of clothing” is most difficult for you to wear?

ASK A FEW: Which of these “pieces of clothing” are most needed in today’s world?

ASK A FEW: According to this passage, how are we to forgive?

ASK A FEW: What do you think that (#10) truly means?

ASK A FEW: It sounds as though this passage is telling us how to have peace. Do you think we can have peace if we destroy our enemies? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: Do you think it matters if we show compassion to our enemies? Give an example.

AROUND THE CIRCLE: How would your enemies, or those who show you contempt, respond if you obeyed this passage in your relationship with them?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: Are you willing to put this passage in practice this week with someone who has treated you poorly? Why or why not?

Wrap Up:
You know, the more radical something is, the more people tend to take notice. We watched a movie clip tonight about a pig who showed compassion to a drowning dog, a drowning dog who just moments earlier was trying to kill him!

Babe was willing to help someone who only wanted to destroy him. What a fantastic example of compassion, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and love. But this story is make-believe as we all know. The question is, “does this sort of thing happen in real life?”

The answer is yes.

If you look in the Bible, you will see there were people who showed compassion on those who tried to hurt them. Take Joseph for instance. His brothers sold him into slavery, and he wound up in an Egyptian dungeon. But years later, when Joseph had risen to great power, his brothers ran into him and Joseph showed them tremendous kindness instead of wrathful revenge. His compassion literally saved their lives.

Move forward a little bit and we have the picture of Jesus being executed on a cross. The Bible says that as Jesus was being crucified, He literally cried out over and over again, “Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.” Instead of cursing them or judging them or resisting them, Jesus prayed for them! Almost incredible isn’t it?

But you and I can do the same thing. Showing compassion to enemies isn’t reserved for just the spiritually elite; we can do it too. Instead of becoming angry when we are mistreated, we should pray and ask God for His help and guidance. I promise you, He will give you instruction on how to respond to the situation. You just need to make sure you are courageous enough to do what He says.

If we are willing to be compassionate, I think God will keep introducing us to people who need forgiveness, mercy, and compassion. Let’s face it: there’s a lot of hurt in the world. We can either add to it, or eradicate it by being compassionate.

Close in Prayer