I branched out from book reviews, and chose this movie from “Book Sneeze” (supplied free of charge) because it sounded very interesting. Although it had some excellent scenes, overall I was deeply disappointed in the “Christian” views presented.
Inspired by a true story, “The Least Among You” is the tale of Richard Kelly, a young black man who is arrested during a riot, and chooses to serve probation at an all-white seminary, where he encounters deep prejudice from both faculty and students. His main support comes from a black gardener and his wife, whose faith is the bright spot in this movie. Unfortunately, many of the others are portrayed in ways that cast Christianity in a negative view: the college president, who initially supports Richard, but turns against him when funding for a media centre is pulled; a woman professor who teaches that miracles in the Bible are allegories; other students who are shown as extremely bigoted. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not presented at all; Richard himself is shown to have lied during his application to the seminary, and although it seems that he acquires a genuine faith during his struggles, there is no message of salvation, but rather a description of a “moment of prayer”. There is also a veiled reference which may imply a consciousness of Christ.
There is some redemption in the end of the movie, as right prevails over wrong in a decisive victory, but it is too little too late, in my opinion. As a Christian movie, this left a lot to be desired.
