Saturday, November 14, 2015

Song of King Solomon, The Book Mel Gibson did not make into a Movie

I have endured adult Sunday school classes.  Romps through the Bible were usually complete and detail ridden.  Through the Old Testament we went...Proverbs....Ecclesiastes....Isaiah.... Wait!  Did we skip something?  Oh yes.  The Song of Songs (aka The Song of Solomon). In fairness to Sunday school teachers and pastors that skip this book, I have seen many turn the lessons of The Song of Solomon into irrelevant drivel.  To us corrupted souls, we see pornography, eroticism, and lust.  In God's eyes (which we are far removed from), we are given something divine.  Whether this book is meant to be an allegory of God's love for Israel, or a literal tale of a man's pure love for a woman...either way...this is fine drama.  Directed by Stephen Southouse, and Produced by Jason Croot, 2011's "Song of King Solomon" is a faithful adaptation of an Old Testament book that many find taboo. Oh yes, the entire film was made from a 4,000 Pound budget.
King Solomon (Croot) has it all.  A kingdom, lots of beautiful wives, great looks, and wealth are true blessings from God.  As God's angels peer down from Heaven, a discontented king is about to meet the woman of his dreams, Shulamith (Ifeoma Oboko).  His current queens are mere possessions, tools for pleasure, but Solomon feels true (God's) love for the first time.  He courtships her, respects her, and fantasizes about her.  Shulamith is also quite taken by Solomon.  She is coy, shy, and also deeply in love.  Solomon and Shulamith embark on a relationship in stark contrast to the king's current lifestyle.  
Much to the chagrin and jealousy of the queens, Solomon elevates Shulamith over all the other women.  Shulamith is not a conquest, nor does she seek wealth.  In a world rife with polygamy, war, and slaves, our lovebirds have challenges in nursing along a relationship that is blessed by God.  Beware, Solomon is hardly a saint, and a full biography of him would expound on some nasty episodes.  However, Shulamith is a refuge for him, and Oboko and Croot play this so well.  This adaptation is true to the biblical text (the entire text is sung in Hebrew, throughout), in fact I followed on in my Bible as I viewed this film.
Filmed in England and Greece, the cinematography takes us deep into the Old Testament.  An uncomfortable film for a Sunday school class to view (...after all, we view it through the eyes of sinners), but an important story in comprehending God's gifts to us of love and sexual intercourse. I also need to give praise to vocalist Yael Claire Shahmoon, as the music so wonderfully captures the setting, plight, and journey undertaken by Solomon and Shulamith.  Be warned, this film contains nudity, though none of it is gratuitous.  Enjoy Song of King Solomon available on Amazon, and currently available for download, just click on Song of King Solomon  

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