Readers and movie fans worldwide know the land of Narnia and the magical beings who dwell there. But many fans do not know the extraordinary creative force – C.S. Lewis – who created this beloved fantasy. “C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia,” originally aired on December 9, in primetime exclusively on the Hallmark Channel, and will release on DVD through Gaiam on March 28, 2006, with distribution into the CBA market through EMI Distribution.
The Hallmark Channel premiere of the docudrama movie coincided with the blockbuster theatrical release of Walt Disney Pictures’ “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” The release of “Beyond Narnia” on DVD will likewise coincide with the DVD release of Disney’s “Narnia” movie.
“We are proud to be distributing this extraordinary film,” states Sue Haney, VP of Retail Marketing at Gaiam. “Not only is it a compelling story of faith, but it provides a true understanding of the birth of Narnia and one of the greatest creative minds of our time.”
Motive Entertainment, the marketing company behind the unprecedented faith-based promotional efforts of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Passion of the Christ and The Polar Express, will be heading up the efforts of all faith-based marketing of the “C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia” DVD release. “After working for a year on the theatrical release of Narnia, we came to understand the incredible love which the faith community has for Narnia, and for Lewis,” says Paul Lauer, president of Motive. “We see ‘Beyond Narnia’ as the perfect companion DVD to the Narnia movie. This is the story behind the story, and behind the man who created the story.”
Motive’s efforts will include radio, publicity and advertising, as well as outreach to influencers at churches, ministries and schools. The efforts of Motive Entertainment will present and make available descriptive explanations of the Biblical symbolism in Narnia, and will work with the faith-based community to share and broadcast these messages.
The one-hour docudrama, which was filmed in many of the actual locations in England where Lewis studied, lived, and worked, is a dramatic reenactment of his life. It explores the inspiration behind his children’s literary masterpiece, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and other works.
“In this wonderful, witty, dramatic movie, Lewis speaks to us of his life, friendship, love, spiritual journey, and his profound tales of Narnia,” says Janet Stokes of the Hollywood Film Advisory Board, which recently bestowed its “Award of Excellence” on the movie.
Writer/Director Norman Stone, who won an International Emmy and two BAFTA Awards for “Shadowlands,” wrote and directed the docudrama. Anton Rodgers, seen in Hollywood movies “The Merchant of Venice” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” stars as C.S. Lewis. Diane Venora, who has appeared in the films “Heat,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Surviving Picasso,” and on the Emmy-winning series “Chicago Hope,” co-stars as Joy Gresham.
“C.S. Lewis’ journey from skepticism to faith is a predominant theme in many of his works,” said Edward J. Murray, president and CEO of Faith & Values Media, the organization that produced the film. The docudrama, which was selected by the C.S. Lewis Foundation for its world-premier showing at their Oxbridge Festival at the University of Cambridge in England, “explores the events in Lewis’ life which not only led him to accept the existence of God, but to accept God as a central part of his life and his writings,” said Murray.
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LEWIS BACKGROUNDER:
A Journey From Skepticism To Faith
Like the characters in many of his works, Lewis’ faith was almost broken after extreme experiences of joy and sorrow, happiness and pain. But even through his most difficult test, Lewis found his way back to God.
In many ways, Lewis’ life was an inspiration for everything that he has written, including the “The Chronicles of Narnia.” His struggle to reconcile his faith with the existence of pain and suffering are recurrent in his life and in his works.
Early on, Lewis relied on his love for reading and learning in order to escape the grief he felt when his mother died. Having refused Christianity at an early age, Lewis continually rejected the existence of God upon witnessing first-hand the misery and deaths brought on by World War 1. After the war, Lewis returned to the solace of his studies at Oxford University, where he enjoyed debating with his colleagues about the validity of Christianity. Lewis maintained that God did not exist, yet he was also angry with God for not existing. After much reading, searching, and the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson, Lewis came to a belief in God and Christianity in 1931.
In 1950, Lewis began correspondence with Joy Gresham, an American poet and a fan of his work. Eventually, Gresham met Lewis in England and the two developed a friendship. In 1956, The British immigration service refused to renew Gresham’s visa. Rather than risk deportation for Gresham and her two sons, David and Douglas, Lewis proposed marriage. Although it began as a marriage in name only, Gresham’s intelligence and passion captured Lewis’ attention, and their relationship deepened. Soon after their civil marriage, Gresham was diagnosed with cancer. As the disease had spread throughout her body, the doctors held out little hope for her survival. It was then that Lewis realized just how much he loved her. In March, 1957, the two were married by an Anglican priest. Shortly after, Gresham died on July 13, 1960.
Gresham’s death shook Lewis’ faith. According to his stepson, Douglas Gresham, Lewis “…never lost his faith in the existence of God. He started to be tempted to doubt the nature of God. But to expect a man to come through the realization of his grief and to be happy? I’m not happy about it now and it’s what? Fifty years later. The grief of my mother’s death still hurts.”
“C.S. Lewis has long been considered one of the twentieth century’s most influential figures in both contemporary Christian thought and contemporary world literature,” said director Norman Stone. “Perhaps the time has come to rediscover the man who gave us such an amazing sweep of popular literature, and who has contributed so much to so many in terms of thinking and believing in a modern age. It is my hope to present Lewis’ inspiring story for believers and non-believers alike and to give viewers insight behind the Chronicles through ‘C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia.’”
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