A religious theme we haven’t discussed in class is the opposition to religion in film. In the film The Invention of Lying, a severe atheistic message is revealed. In the movie, the characters live in a society in which only the truth can be told. Most of the people do not sugar coat the truth, and they definitely do not lie—no such thing has even been thought of.
That is, until Ricky Gervais’ character, Mark, consoles his dying mother by telling her that a man in the sky has told him about a beautiful place where she will be young, happy, care-free and with her loved ones. When the nurses overhear him describing what viewers come to know as Christians’ idea of Heaven, he must maintain his façade and pretend that he is the messenger for the man in the sky (Christians’ idea of God).
Throughout the course of the movie, silly things are done to discredit religion. One of the best examples of this is when Mark writes the Ten Commandments on the cardboard of pizza boxes in his house.
A film reviewer suggests that Mark’s motivation to lie rests in his love interest, Anna, played by Jennifer Aniston. Many of Mark’s lies have been started in order to win Anna over. Bill Blizek writes, “At just the moment Mark can lie and win the girl of his dreams, he instead tells the truth…It is better, Mark decides and the movie concurs, to go without what you most want than to get it through a lie.”
Blizek believes that though the film might be anti-Christian, “it can also be interpreted as against any of the stories that we make up to make us feel happy—whether religious, political or even personal. In a kind of existential humanist way, the movie says that we ought to embrace life, enjoy life live life to the fullest, even if there is no god and no life after death.”
I have to disagree with his stance on the blatant anti-religion in this film. Although the film does not explicitly mention religion, the themes and parallels to the Christian faith are undeniable. Furthermore, the silly events and the ultimate fabrication of Christianity in the movie are clear indicators of doubting Christian ideology and authenticity.
Additionally, I do not think that the movie discredits stories we make up. Rather, I believe that the movie sets out to discredit Christianity. Also, the fact that Ricky Gervais is a staunch atheist also bolsters this notion. Regardless of its intent to discredit or to entertain, the movie is a fun one to watch and it promotes thought about how one sees religion and truth.
Blizek, Bill. “Film Review: The Invention of Lying.” The Journal of Religion and Film. Vol. 13, No. 2, October 2009.
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