Category: Download Publisher: E1 Entertainment, 2009, certificate U Media for you to download: Background:
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Nativity! (certificate U, in cinemas from 27th November 2009) is an improvised comedy film from director Debbie Isett (Confetti), starring Martin Freeman (The Office, Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy). Failed actor Paul Maddens (Freeman) is a primary teacher who reluctantly takes on the task of organising his school's nativity play. Paul's rivalry with Gordon Shakespeare, his counterpart at the local private school gets out of hand when anarchic classroom assistant Mr Poppy overhears Paul's boast that a leading Hollywood producer is going to turn their play into a film. Soon events are spiralling out of Paul's control as the performance draws closer and closer.
The clip shows Mr Maddens' new classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton) playing with the children at playtime. Mr Maddens is antagonised by Mr Poppy's unprofessional behaviour, whereas the children love the fact that he behaves just like one of them.
Suggestion:
Concept: Jesus' incarnational ministry
The clip could be used when discussing Jesus. Mr Poppy enters enthusiastically into the world of the children he is working with. In a similar way, Jesus didn't just come to be with humankind, he became a human, being born as a baby, growing up and living a human life.
You could also talk about how Jesus, like Mr Poppy, didn't behave the way that the authority figures expected people to act. Jesus was an unpredictable figure whose life was bound up in God's grace, not simply his judgement.
Bible passages:
Matthew 1:18-24
Luke 2:8-20
John 1:14
Philippians 2:1-11
Hebrews 2:5-18 | 
