Parkland (11/5/2013)

Rated PG-13 for bloody sequences of ER trauma procedures, some violent images and language, and smoking throughout.

Starring Zac Efron, Billy Bob Thornton, Ron Livingston, Paul Giamatti, Tom Welling and Marcia Gay Harden

Directed by Peter Landesman

A remarkable look at one of our Nation’s darkest days.

Recounting the chaotic events that occurred in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, Parkland weaves together the perspectives of a handful of ordinary individuals suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances: the young doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, Dallas’ chief of the Secret Service, an unwitting cameraman who captured what became the most watched and examined film in history; the FBI agents who nearly had the gunman within their grasp, the brother of Lee Harvey Oswald – left to deal with his shattered family, and JFK’s security team – witnesses to both the president’s death and Vice President Lyndon Johnson’s rise to power over a nation whose innocence was forever altered.

Some people may not like this movie because there is not a plot. It’s a true docudrama – re-enacting the series of events surrounding the assassination of JFK. I actually liked that there’s was not a fabricated story created to tell the bigger story like they did with Titanic.

So even though there’s no story arc, no real character development or transformation, Parkland is well done with an excellent (and huge) cast.

The character with the most “story” is Abraham Zapruder, who used his 8mm camera to capture the infamous “Zapruder film”. As you can imagine his experience was extremely unsettling and we see it. Many of the other characters are just there, doing what they do. But they are played by some very familiar (and very talented) faces.

Parkland moves at a breakneck pace until the end – an audio wrap-up by Walter Cronkite.

Finally a note to all the conspiracy theorists out there: you will be very disappointed, because this movie follows “the facts.” I loved how they brought history to life, for me it was “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The filmmakers use some very creative ways to not show the actual assassination, but the hospital scene is pretty graphic. That being said, I think most teenagers could and should see this one.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. How would you describe the Secret Service agents in the film?


2. What is their primary responsibility?


3. Why do you think they are willing to sacrifice their lives for a President?


4. Read John 15:13
   Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
   
   
5. What is the difference between this verse and the secret service? (love vs. duty)


6. Do you think Jesus wants us to lay down our lives because of love or because of duty?


7. What can you sacrifice this week out of love…not out of duty?