One line from C.S. Lewis’ autobiography, “Surprised by Joy,” is both simple and profound: “That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.”
My friend Max McLean is bringing the story behind this line to life in his new film “The Most Reluctant Convert.” It premiered in select theaters across the country Nov. 3 (including AMC Theatres’ Chattanooga 18, 5080 North Terrace).
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the tour of Oxford at the start of the film. There’s something magical about seeing Lewis in the rooms, pubs and streets where he roamed for most of his adult life. The city shaped him: It was his spiritual greenhouse, social club and intellectual playground. In the film, we take tea with Lewis at “The Kilns,” his home of more than 30 years, share a pint with him in his favorite pub and see him take communion in his tiny parish church.
Simply put, Max McLean’s portrayal of C.S. Lewis is incredible. For years now, McLean has been bringing Lewis’ life and work to the stage through The Fellowship for Performing Arts, based in New York. His love for the beloved author is obvious. He recently said, “Lewis is a hero of mine. I think he’s not just one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, but one of the greatest writers of all time.”
I agree. C.S. Lewis is a life worthy of appreciation, and “The Most Reluctant Convert” is a story especially appropriate for this cultural moment. Early in his life, Lewis experienced much of the joy and pain he would later write about, especially in the life and death of his mother. These memories were part of what drove Lewis to become an exceptional children’s author. He took the minds and hearts of kids seriously, famously saying that, “a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story.”