The movie BOOK OF ELI is set in a post-apocalyptic world, which was brought about by a nuclear war. It tells the story of a man named Eli, who is travelling to the west. He is on a mission to the West to find a safe place for the book he is carrying. It is revealed that the book is the only remaining copy of the Bible left in the world after people burned copies of the Bible, blaming Christianity for the war. His mission is to protect the book at all costs until he reaches the safe place. Eli was sent on this mission by a voice in his head, which also guaranteed him supernatural protection through the way.
Though Eli protects the book believing it to be essential for recovery of humanity, there are other people, especially Carnegie, who believe that the book can be used to bend the peoples’ will, making them subservient. Carnegie thus wants to acquire the book to augment his authority over the people, arguing it was used for such purpose before. He wants to get the book at all costs, constantly killing and torturing for it. Faced with such completion, Eli is forced to do the same, which goes against the ideals of the book he is sworn to protect.
The movie represents the three worldviews, but the main worldview is Christianity. There are many examples of Christianity in the movie. For example, Eli was sent of the mission by a voice in his head, which he believes it is God. Eli also demonstrates the values and ideals of Christianity; reading the book and praying daily. At some point he tells his companion, Solara, that he walks by faith, and not by sight.
Naturalism is presented from the perspective of the ordinary people living in the post-apocalyptic world. To most of them, the goal of life is to survive no matter what. This is best illustrated by the couple Eli and Solara meets along the way, the couple have resorted to cannibalism to survive. On the other hand, humanism is presented from the perspective of Carnegie. He firmly believes in human authority even desiring to acquire the book so as to fortify his authority.
The main obstacle that prevents Eli from living out his worldview is the mission itself. He views the mission as his main, even to some extent, the sole purpose of his existence. He strongly believes that the mission is his path and the other happenings are not his concern. This is evident in the scene he fails to help the people being attacked by a gang. Similarly, his belief to protect the book at all costs results to some grotesque violence. At such times, he is as merciless as Carnegie and his men, if not more.
Apart from its entertainment quality, the movie stirs a mental, and to some extent a spiritual discussion about faith. Though it is not a quintessential of faith, it nevertheless highlights the importance and relevance of faith. The bigger part of the movie presents the worldviews at their extremes or at their worst. Some parts however present a fair representation of the worldviews. However, even though the movie does not represent the contemporary status of the worldviews, it nevertheless highlights the effects of taking them to extremes.
References
Silver, J. (Producer), & The Hughes Brothers (Directors). (2010). The Book of Eli [Motion
picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros.
