Swiss Family Robinson

This past weekend, some of my buddies and I watched the 1960 Disney classic, Swiss Family Robinson. We had all seen it in our childhoods but thought it was time to see it once again. The premise revolves around a family who is traveling to New Guinea with their captain and crew but is stranded on an island after being caught in a storm while being chased by pirates. The family settles on an island where they soon call home and create a beautiful tree house that I myself dream to build some day. After a girl and her grandfather are captured by the pirates near where the family is living, Fritz and Ernst, the two eldest sons grab the girl, Roberta, and bring her back to their home. After several days pass, the family decides to have a race with some of their captured animals. The mother fires a gun to signal the start of the race and the pirates hear the gunshot and encircle the family. The pirate’s attack, but being prepared, the family set up booby-traps to fend them off. Finally, a ship comes to the rescue captained by Roberta’s grandfather. Ernst decides to leave with him to pursue an education, and the rest of the family including Roberta stay on the island to call it home.

Now one might wonder how any of this could connect to our discussions in class. Well, we’ve recently been discussing how we can follow the path in the Kingdom of God. Things such as buying your produce from farmers markets, or subscribing to a farm where you support local farmers and receive fresher produce. Or perhaps shopping at thrift shops where you are in support for breaking down the vicious cycle of child labor. If we look at the story of Swiss Family Robinson, even though they lived in a time with much less innovation and technology, they still had to make a living on an island in the middle of nowhere. They received water through a mill, eliminating the need for electricity. They got their whole food supply directly from the Earth. They even wrapped their Christmas gifts in huge leaves rather than paper! And as you find out in the end, they are satisfied with these conditions and choose to stay on the island. In a way, I think the pirates symbolize the empire. They try and keep them from living this new life and try to kill the happiness they have found. This film also portrays a lot about human character and purpose. With everything they create like the tree house, booby traps, and coconut bombs, we can see how creative we are and the imagination that resides in us. With what the family did on this uncivilized island tells us the creativity and imagination we can use to worship the Kingdom of God and release ourselves from the wrath of the empire!

I personally grew up with this film, and have yet to meet anyone that doesn’t like it. This of course means I recommend seeing it and urge you to give it a watch!