The Last Valley should be required viewing in every high school history class. History textbooks comment that the Bill of Rights, and the first amendment in particular, were in large part a response to the religious wars of the previous century. This film shows what that means in vivid detail. It certainly answers the question "What might our lives look like without the Bill Of Rights?"
share It's also interesting for students to see a vivid depiction of something that barely rates a mention in the average high school history text.
In addition, it's incredibly well written and acted.
And lastly, while Europe engulfed itself in a horrific religious/political struggle, settlers were busy carving out a new life in a New World, in an attempt to get away from the conditions that caused and sustained the conflict.
The splendid Vladek Sheybal is in it too.
Marlon the Cat 1991-17th October 2005
[deleted]
[deleted]
Well said, Bilwick. I purchased the DVD of "The Last Valley" and was impressed by the authenticity of the production. Like many conflicts, religion is but a convenient scapegoat. The real source of conflict is power and man's lust for it.
shareThe Bill of Rights is not perfect. It is simply a set of guidelines based on an underlying premise- the dignity and value of each and every citizen. That sounds simple, but a society that is oblivious to that concept produces horrors. Unlike most societies in history in which only the rich and influential had any chance for a decent life, at least we have identified the goal. An American complaining that the Bill of Rights is not perfect is like a shipwreck survivor complaining about the substandard decor of the lifeboat that is keeping him from the sharks. Of course, the Bill of Rights is not worth the paper it is printed on unless people believe in it and defend it.
shareI haven't seen The Last Valley yet, but it sounds like I would really love this one. I'll be on the look-out for this film.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
Or the internal combustion engine or antibiotics or regular armies with regular pay.
shareYes, it was a great but largely unknown film. I saw it in the spring of 1970 while in the U.S. Navy at age 19. It made quite an impression on me and I realized for the first time why people fled from Europe to the new world.
It was sad to see the fatalist Captain die the way he did. One can pretty much guess what he would have said to Vogel as he expired: "If you find God, tell him we created..." Sure, one can fill in the blank without too much trouble: "We created this mess and we are paying for it", or "we created the disorder and awful situation. It's not His fault."
The music of the film is hauntingly beautiful and the scenery is so good that I found myself wishing that the photography had offered long glances at the mountains. There wasn't enough of that.
The topic post said: "This film shows what that means in vivid detail. It certainly answers the question 'What might our lives look like without the Bill Of Rights?'"
No, that isn't so. What the film revealed was what things are like for people without the knowledge of the true and living God, the God of scripture. Catholicism, state church protestantism, and atheism combined in the same population will result in superstition, confusion, and eventually war. The real gospel results in peace for any people who humbly believe it.
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." from the book of Psalms.
If none of them had 'known' God, why, they'd have been as right as rain.
Pat a wet nun?
I think the captain was going to say we created "Paradise" or something like it. Although it would be near-sinful to call the Valley/Village "Paradise" they truly accomplished something great there, and would probably have settled there forever if the Thirty Years' War hadn't raged on beyond the snowy mountain passes...
I think the captain was going to say we created "Paradise" or something like it.
Although it would be near-sinful to call the Valley/Village "Paradise" they truly accomplished something great there, and would probably have settled there forever if the Thirty Years' War hadn't raged on beyond the snowy mountain passes...
Well said Martyrs55...I completely agree.
shareWhat the film revealed was what things are like for people without the knowledge of the true and living God, the God of scripture. Catholicism, state church protestantism, and atheism combined in the same population will result in superstition, confusion, and eventually war. The real gospel results in peace for any people who humbly believe it.
One can pretty much guess what he would have said to Vogel as he expired: "If you find God, tell him we created..." Sure, one can fill in the blank without too much trouble: "We created this mess and we are paying for it", or "we created the disorder and awful situation. It's not His fault."
I don't want to rain on everybodies parade, but as I'm sure you're all aware the colonization of the americas was not somekind of mystical peacefull fantasyland. From the getgo there were native casualties even worse than the 30 years war, and the fighting may not have been as intense due to lack of resources, but all of the european conflicts of the time managed to find their way over here.
"No man is just a number"
And accurate history lesson along with the film would be also necessary because without it there would be more people like in this thread who doesn't know that the biggest religious bigots in Europe were the ones who escaped to America when the churches started to go softer and loose their power.
sharethe colonization of the americas was not somekind of mystical peacefull fantasyland. From the getgo there were native casualties even worse than the 30 years war
It's aged pretty well. The ending is a little abrupt. But what else could they had done, I guess?
shareI agree, I found it very entertaining
share