Pollard on Film

This programme, which includes clips from the film, explores ideas of revenge, enemies and conflict as expressed in the film Defiance.

The programme invites discussion of the question 'Would you fight back by killing your enemies or by saving your friends?' - and sets up any talk about revenge.

Published:
14th January 09
Length: 06.00

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Download the editable script of this Pollard on Film, modify it as appropriate for your needs, then download the video containing the clips and the trailer to show when presenting your script (free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).

Download related videos

Here are some other videos that might be suitable for use at your live event (the downloads are free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription)

• Greg Haslam (Westminster Chapel) on vengeance in society 
• Andrew White (the "vicar of Baghdad") on his response to the murder of many of his congregation
• Robin Oake (retired Chief Constable and author of Father Forgive) on forgiveness and justice
  

 Suggestion for use

1. Show the first part of the programme - then freeze frame on the question "Would you fight back by killing your enemies or by saving your friends?"
2. Invite people to share their answers with one another.
3. Invite feedback and discuss what our answers tell us about:
   • our view of morality - how do we decide what is right and wrong, and to what extent are these ideas reflected in our behaviour?
   • our view of God - what is God's role in establishing justice, and how much is up to us?
   • our view of ourselves - what is our purpose in life? What kind of people do we think we are, and to what extent are we able to do good in the world?
4. Show the rest of the programme
5. Deliver a short talk lifting off from the suggestion to look at biblical ideas of revenge, morality, and trust in God. You could look at Matthew 5:38-45 and think about how we can face conflict in the power of God, perhaps illustrating these ideas with contemporary quotes about enemies, revenge, and injustice (N.B. these links into the large collection of relevant Bible references and contemporary quotes are free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).

Background reading

Before using this programme you may find the following helpful:

• Wikipedia articles on people and ideas mentioned in the programme (N.B. we cannot vouch for the accuracy of any content in wikipedia)
  • The Bielski partisans
  • Martin Luther King