A heart-wrenching new movie recounts the beheadings 10 years in the past this week of 21 Coptic Christians by the hands of ISIS Islamic radicals.
And but the movie, merely titled “The 21,” additionally tells the poignant story of the martyrs’ unbelievable religion, how they had been diligent to the top — and by no means as soon as denied their Savior even unto demise.
Producer Mandi Hart mentioned, “I do not know that I am going to ever recover from imagining, in the middle of 40-some-odd days of captivity, what number of nanoseconds of alternative they needed to save their very own lives. And to a person, all 21 of them had been true to the top.”
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Hart and the workforce at MORE Productions introduced the 13-minute movie on the Worldwide Non secular Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., final week. It was a jolting reminder of how the occasions of Feb. 15, 2015, shocked the world — one, for the sheer horror of its staging, and two, as a result of the Islamic radicals filmed the brutal slayings.
As a option to soften the horror and improve the spirit of hope, “The 21” tells the story via animation — intercut with precise ISIS propaganda footage.
Ten years in the past this week, ISIS radicals beheaded 21 Coptic Christians. A brand new movie with animation tells the story of the boys’s compelling depths of religion. (AP)
However it’s the imagery of the animation that provides it larger impression. The animation is within the fashion of Orthodox iconography — the work of the saints and of Jesus that adorn the iconostas, the screens in entrance of the altar, on the nave, the sanctuary and the dome of each Orthodox church on the earth.
Hart mentioned, “We knew that we wished a challenge that will mirror the cultural distinctiveness of the Coptic custom, significantly its iconography.”
She referred to as out its “operate,” in addition to its structure and neighborhood — and “the symbolism, colours, shapes and the best way that iconography was truly all about creating an icon.”
“The truth that all of them had been true to the top is simply exceptional.”
On a latest episode of “Lighthouse Religion” podcast, producer Mandi Hart spoke extra concerning the making of “The 21” — and the transformative energy of studying about what these males endured for his or her religion.
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They had been easy laborers from Egypt, working in Libya, when ISIS members kidnapped them and demanded they denounce their religion in Jesus Christ, the one situation to safe their freedom.
The lads refused. For a month and a half, the boys had been tortured and abused. Then they had been put in orange jumpsuits and paraded to a sandy hill the place masked, knife-wielding radicals lined them up and took their lives.
The terrorists hoped that “not less than one of many males” would recant — would save himself by “denying Christ,” mentioned the producer of the brand new movie, “The 21.” “None of them did.” (iStock)
Hart mentioned probably the most barbarous a part of the story is definitely not within the new movie.
“They had been truly beheaded one after the other,” she mentioned. “And ISIS did that, hoping that … being killed in that grotesque means would persuade not less than one of many males to recant, to save lots of themselves by denying Christ. And none of them did. And really one of many males requested to be the final one.”
“It’s one factor to speak about faithfulness. It’s one other to see it demonstrated in shut up.”
Hart added with emotion, “There are not any phrases [about] the depth of [their] religion. And it has been extraordinarily difficult and convicting personally, too. I can not think about myself in that place — and the truth that all of them had been true to the top is simply exceptional.”
Hart purposely didn’t view the ISIS footage of the beheadings. It was simply an excessive amount of to take. However director Tod Polson did.
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He informed Fox Information, “The unique video made by ISIS is surreal. I’ve solely seen it as soon as however …[it is] ceaselessly burned into my reminiscence. It’s as heartbreaking as it’s inspiring. Inspiring as a result of the sacrifice of the martyrs is so complete. It’s one factor to speak about their faithfulness. It’s one other to see it demonstrated in shut up.”
Polson additionally mentioned, “Lots of the martyrs’ households play the unique ISIS video of their houses on a loop. One of many complaints they’ve is that ‘The 21’ isn’t violent sufficient. They need folks exterior their neighborhood to know what their males went via.”
A fighter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also called ISIS) holds a flag and a weapon on a road within the metropolis of Mosul, June 23, 2014. (Reuters Photograph)
ISIS filmed their abomination for the aim of propaganda and energy, believing they might usher in a brand new caliphate for the glory of Islam.
However transcripts from interviews of ISIS members performed by authorities revealed that there have been different supernatural powers additionally at work on that sandy hill.
That is new info.
On that sandy seaside a decade in the past, these males could have witnessed God’s holy military.
Stated Hart, “Within the interviews with the previous ISIS members, one specifically talks about earthquakes. He talks about shadowy figures being seen and a number of the figures bearing swords, others wearing sure methods accompanying the martyrs, significantly when the martyrs had been on the seaside.”
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The movie depicts these supernatural occurrences.
The shadowy figures seem as angels of sunshine, maybe even Jesus Himself.
Reviews are that one of many radicals (not pictured) got here to religion and was baptized. He stays in hiding, in keeping with the movie’s producer. (iStock)
On that sandy seaside a decade in the past, these males could have witnessed God’s holy military and the forces of Devil of their historic battle.
And not less than one member of ISIS was shaken to the core.
Hart mentioned one ISIS member was so terrified by what he noticed that he fled. Reviews are that he got here to religion and was baptized. He stays in hiding, in keeping with Hart.
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The bigger story has been the show of the depths of religion of all the Coptic neighborhood. “Coptic” means Egyptian. The Coptic are one of many authentic Christian Orthodox church buildings.
For two,000 years, they have been a persecuted church.
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And a few students, mentioned Hart, assume they’ve had thousands and thousands of martyrs over the course of their historical past, previous and current.
The 21 martyrs requested that Jesus forgive their killers — simply as Jesus mentioned, whereas being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The 21 martyrs requested that Jesus forgive their killers — simply as Jesus mentioned, whereas being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (iStock)
At a time when it’s extra acceptable to publicly profane the identify of Jesus than to reward Him, the movie reveals the ability of that identify — and the way the boys relied on it for energy, for hope.
Hart mirrored on the larger good that got here out of such evil.
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She mentioned the Coptic archbishop of London, Archbishop Angaelos, informed her to consider when that former ISIS member who grew to become a believer dies.
These 21 Coptic males will welcome him into heaven as their brother — as solely in Christ can natural-born enemies turn into one folks.
