(RNS) — The global smash hit “The Chosen,” the speculative biographical series about Jesus and his disciples, has inspired major streaming channels to tap other biblical sources. Moses is getting his close-up on Netflix, while King David has two shows, Prime Video’s “House of David”and Fox Nation’s docudrama “David: King of Israel.”
But historically, some of the most far-reaching Christian cultural touchstones have reimagined biblical themes through allegory. Think C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia” or J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” which put biblical teachings about temptation, redemption and sacrifice in a fantasy package.
The success of this approach can be seen in a recent Academy Award nomination for “Forevergreen,” a 12-minute movie from Disney animators that conveys the Christian gospel through allegory.
The film’s textured, almost tactile, animation is combined with a soundtrack that blends folk music with sweeping orchestration to tell a story about unmerited grace — the idea that humans are saved not by their good deeds but by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. But unless you’re looking for it, the Christian message isn’t overt until the closing title card, which quotes John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friend.”
The film, which is free to view on YouTube, follows an orphaned be …