Lewis documentary delves into life of ‘Narnia’ creator

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — It’s no surprise that C.S. Lewis fans are abuzz about the Dec. 9 opening of the new Disney/Walden Media movie, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” based on the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series.

But few are aware that another Lewis-inspired project, “C. S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia,”—a docudrama about Lewis’ life and spiritual quest—will air on the Hallmark channel at 8 p.m. that same day. It is not to be missed by those who appreciate the life and work of the famous author.

The hour-long film was shot on location in England and Ireland in many of the places where Lewis lived and taught. Written and directed by Emmy award winner Norman Stone (Shadowlands), the project was produced for Faith and Values Media by Karen Pascal of Windborne Productions in association with Lightworks Producing Group. Anton Rogers portrays Lewis, and Diane Venora co-stars as his wife, Joy Davidman Gresham.

“The project is part of a series focusing on ‘people saints’ who changed people’s lives,” said Edward Murray, president of Faith and Values Media. “We are about celebrating the value and uniqueness of faith traditions,” he said in introductory remarks made in November at the film’s American premiere.

A classics professor at Oxford and Cambridge universities, and the author of more than 50 books, Lewis, called “Jack” by his close friends, is considered by some to be the greatest writer of the 20th century. The Chronicles of Narnia, seven children’s titles published in the 1950s, is the literary giant’s most famous work and has been translated into 40 languages besides English. Lewis died 42 years ago, on the day President John F. Kennedy was shot. Yet, he is better known today than in his own lifetime.

Murray explained that the “Beyond Narnia” production was tailored to reach a “35-plus” demographic and thus make the story of C. S. Lewis accessible to a very broad American audience.

In his own words
The film builds on Rogers’ portrayal of Lewis telling his story, much of it in Lewis’ own words, retrieved from a number of his writings. While the production does include a dramatic account of Lewis assisting children who were evacuated to the countryside during the bombing of London and his inspiration for the Narnia stories, the film effectively explores other events that shaped his life and writings as well. The Lewis narrative is interspersed with a dramatic portrayal of significant events and commentary from his stepson, Douglas Gresham, and others.

Dr. J. Stanley Mattson, founder and president of the Redlands-based C.S. Lewis Foundation, served as an adviser to the project and facilitated use of “the Kilns,” Lewis’ home in Oxford, for five weeks of filming there. The C.S. Lewis foundation purchased and restored Lewis’ former home and now uses it as a study center for visiting scholars and a summer seminar as it pursues its mission to advance the renewal of Christian scholarship and artistic expression in mainstream colleges and universities.

“We worked very closely with Norman Stone,” said Kate Simcoe of the C. S. Lewis Foundation, coordinator for the Kilns and summer seminars. She said Mattson, a Lewis scholar, also advised for the Disney movie. The foundation is partnering with Disney to offer a sweepstakes prize of a five-day stay in Lewis’ home in Oxford.

Documentary debut
“C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia” debuted in Southern California Nov. 14 in conjunction with the Hollywood Distinguished Lectures series at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Following the screening, Mattson moderated a panel discussion on the topic of “Shadowlands and Reality: The Storyteller as Witness.” Panelists included Douglas Gresham, Edward Murray and Vishal Mangalwadi, a scholar, writer and philosopher.

“Jack didn’t set out to write a Christian story for children,” Gresham said as he talked about the way Lewis approached writing the now famous work. He went on to explain that the stories came from who Lewis was, and that his Christian worldview was subconscious—like breathing—rather than a proscribed framework in which Lewis worked to create Christian material.

Gresham heads the C. S. Lewis estate and serves as honorary chairman of the C.S. Lewis Foundation. He is the author of “Jack’s Life,” a new book about Lewis published by Broadman and Holman and a co-producer of the new Narnia feature film.

“The movie, for me, is the realization of a lifelong dream,” Gresham said of the soon-to-be released Disney film.

For more information about “C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia,” visit the Web site faithstreams.com.

Published by Keener Communications Group, December 2005

Christian Examiner™, P.O. Box 2606 El Cajon, CA 92021 • 619-668-5100 • Fax 619-668-1115
Email: info@christianexaminer.com • Web site: www.christianexaminer.com