A while back I reviewed an enchanting book by philosopher/children’s author N.D. Wilson. It’s titled Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl and it’s one of my favorite books, one I still think about pretty often. I can’t think of another non-fiction book that has aroused in me a deeper sense of wonder.
Wilson has the flair and provocation of Chesterton coupled with the child-like imagination of Lewis. And in Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, he uses all of these gifts to subvert some of the world’s most threatening ideologies–atheism, materialism, intellectualism, and cynicism.
Now, a year after the book’s release, Wilson has produced what he calls an “idea film”–a DVD “bookumentary”–which brings to life the book’s beautiful prose. Watching the Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl DVD leaves you with the same joy, wonder, and faith that you get by reading the book.
The producer of both Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ gives the film some glowing praise, calling it “a cinematic achievement in its genre.” And here’s the producer’s description of the Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl DVD:
A cinematic treatment of a worldview.
A poet live in concert.
A motion picture sermon.
VH1 Storytellers meets Planet Earth.
60 Minutes meets Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.In this unusual but fascinating film sequence, best-selling author N.D. Wilson gives an emotional and intellectual tour of life in this world and the final chapter that is death. Everything before and after and in between is a series of miracles–some of which are encouraging, others disturbing and uncomfortable.
You can catch both the compelling trailer and a sample from the film below:
(HT: Justin Taylor)