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The movie “The Interpreter” is an edge of the seat thriller that will keep you guessing! It revolves around an United Nations interpreter Sylvia Broome (played by Nicole Kidman) who overhears an assassination plot. At first, she does not think much of it until she finds out that a ruthless dictator is coming to the United States to address the United Nations. Not wanting blood on her hands she tells the authorities about what she overheard and is now protected by the U.S Secret Service’s diplomatic protection agents who look into her claims because they don’t want even a ruthless dictator to be murdered on their soil. Her protection detail is handed over to Agent Keller (played by Sean Penn).

Content Review:

I really liked the movies' focus of dealing with the assassination plot!. This is the first movie of Kidman I have watched where I don't have to look away when she is alone with a man. The movie is rated PG-13 for violence and brief language. It is a movie that addresses issues such as genocide, grief, revenge, and justice.

Spiritual Implications:

In the movie ‘The Interpreter’ we come to learn about Sylvia’s family background and what she had to endure. Surrounded by violence from where she used to live, she decides to come to the United Nations to make a difference as an Interpreter so misinterpretations do not allow bloodshed to continue. She was not passive in the environment she used to be in but decided to make a difference.

It reminded me about the difference each of us has the ability to make no matter how bleak things look around us. We need to take a stand. Sylvia took a stand to the bloodshed around her by becoming ‘The Interpreter’ for the United Nations. Biblical Scripture reminds us that we can make a difference.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” (Proverbs 24:10-12, NIV)

The movie also brings to light the issue of revenge. When a person loses their family to violence, those that are grieving have an option to save the murderer or let him/her die. We learn from Sylvia where she is from, it is believed that those who do not take vengeance into their own hands will be able to put the mourning behind them but if they do take vengeance into their own hands, they will mourn forever. Sylvia makes a profound statement to a Secret Service agent stating that “Vengeance is a lazy form of dealing with grief.”

It reminds me of what God wants us to remember when people want revenge on other people because of an injustice.

^“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19, NIV)

In the movie, we learn that Sylvia tries to do everything in her ability to stop the bloodshed of human lives. She cares for the lives of people who are dying. This brought to my mind that people are dying in this world whether it being physical death or spiritual death but we can intervene. I thought about people dying a spiritual death.

To avoid spiritual death, sometimes people need an interpreter to help them understand what Scripture really means so they can attain the Salvation that God promises those that turn to Him. This is where believers in Christ come into the picture. They have an awesome and privileged responsibility to help others see that, if they do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Personal Savior, the time is coming when they will be assassinated by Satan. No one around them can help them to be saved except being in the protection of the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Lord Jesus will deliver them from Satan’s grasp. You can be the one to proclaim Jesus to them!

^“But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13, NIV)

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14-17, NIV)

Questions to Ponder:

If you knew a ruthless dictator from another country would die on your soil but you had the power to stop it, what will your actions be?

What do you think about the statement, “Vengeance is a lazy form of dealing with grief?”

How does Satan try to assassinate human beings?

What kind of protective service can the Lord Jesus Christ offer you?

Whose protection do you take in your life especially your spiritual life?