MovieChat Forums > Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) Discussion > ThIs film is a religious allegory

ThIs film is a religious allegory

posted 15 years ago by mknoiret
10 replies | jump to latest

Aside from being a charming little film about rock and roll, Eddie and the Cruisers is ,as well, just as complete an allegorical retelling of the Gospel story as, for intance, The Day the Earth Stood still. It is interesting that such a
literary device is used so intimately in a rock tale, but this aspect adds
a lot to the impact of the movie for a thoughtful viewer. All the elements of allegory are in place, a deeply influential central character, an everyman whose life is forever changed by contact with him, the resurrection mythology, and in the end the documents which are preserved symbolise the new testament. A calm review of the film reveals numerous details which reflect elements of the gospel story but at its heart the message is that there is something profound and fine which is the real message of Eddie, the Christ figure. I think all this is pretty obvious. Eddie and the Cruisers a religious allegory created by a sensitive and serious minded person who loves rock and roll and also has a finely developed moral compass.
Michael Kramer

[–] Kimberly_Dee 15 years ago

I didn't think of it that way. Good point...

[–] rooprect 15 years ago

Interesting thoughts, I'll have to watch it again with that in mind.

The only thing that hangs me up is that Eddie wasn't persecuted, except by himself; in fact he was almost deified by the fans & society. It was his own internal torment (ambition) that brought his downfall. In that respect, he may be closer to a Lucifer figure whose fall was due to arrogance (Lucifer: "It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven" or Eddie: "If we can't be the best, Sal, then what's the use in trying")

Eh, I'm just sorta thinking out loud. Definitely I think you're onto something with the allegory & moral context.

[–] DarthBill 14 years ago

An interesting take on the film.

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 14 years ago

Very good points, most films & stories are actually recycled old fables & allegories. Star Wars is the most famous one, as well as LOTR or the Arthurian legends.

OPEN YOUR EYES! http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbi2hi_1993-chandler-molestation-extortion_news

[–] Haverchuck_Is_King 14 years ago

Did Jesus fake his death just like Eddie?

[–] evenrane 14 years ago

If he was part man and part god.... then yes he did.

[–] killeroftime813 14 years ago

Jesus's story is the most famous version of this story/character arc then those other ones. The big difference is that the Jesus story is told as fact and is viewed by many as such.

Krishna, Attis, Dionysus, Osiris, Mithra, etc., are all pretty much the same thing and most of those predates the Jesus myth. And if I'm not mistaken they're all personifications of the Sun.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

That is an interesting interpretation.

[–] Ramnagel 9 years ago

Well mknoiret, you also thought La Chevre (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082183/board/nest/11614033), a French comedy with Gerard Depardieu from 1981, was a religious allegory. I think if you try hard enough you can fit just about anything to your preconceptions. Seek and ye shall find, pretty much.

Many movies have themes of an emerging central hero, a coming of age theme, or a rags to riches angle. They often have the hero suffer loss, or have the hero hit rock bottom, and then end off with a reward of some kind, or a realization, or victory. Classic examples of these overworked story patterns are, for example, the Rocky movies. The champion boxer always seems on his last legs before his miraculous comeback. That is how one creates narrative tension and it works every time. These are just successful story lines that mirror our desires for our own lives, not Christian allegories. If anything, the Christian mythology is itself one of these types of stories, which is why you are perhaps becoming confused, and seeing religious allegory wherever you look.

One example of a genuine Christ allegory in movies is, of course, Superman. A recent superman movie, Superman Returns (2006) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348150), unarguably contains deliberate religious allegory. Superman has since conception been a christ-like figure, deliberately so. In the movie towards the end he undergoes a Passion of his own as he is scourged while crawling to his own redemption and the salvation of humanity. Now that is allegory, plain and simple and intended. But not this movie. That is just wishful and wrong-headed thinking.

Our gods have always mimicked our stories, not the other way around. That is the only way we can identify with them. They have to become human before we can relate. Sound familiar?

This movie is not a religious allegory. Religion is, however, an allegory of actual human suffering. You can count on that.

[–] rex_ilusivii 9 years ago

God, do I hate it when a rational person saunters in and kills all the buzz. 😜

no i am db