it is how I was written

In the beginning was the word and the word was with God. The world was spoken into being and with it came the story which each of us lives.

I loved the movie Inkheart to a degree that bemused all the people I made watch it with me, many of who failed to see the charm. The most captivating part for me was the character of Dustfinger, and only a little bit because he was played by the fabulous Paul Bettany.

Dustfinger is an unusual protagonist for a fantasy story--he has some magic abilities but these do not elevate him, his is not a hero or a villain just a little bit of a coward, and he is caught up in the action of the story totally against his will and his sole desire is to get home. In short he is incredibly human.

Yet along with this he is perfectly cognizant of being a character in a work of fiction. He fears meeting his author because he does not wish to know how his story ends. He is fully mindful of his character flaws, telling another character he is a coward because it is how he was written. Rising above this is something that he struggles with throughout the movie--when faced with his character flaws he insists that that is not all he is. Later, upon meeting his author and inadvertently having his fate revealed to him is reaction is telling the author "You don't control my fate. I'm not just some character in a book. And you are not my god!"

We too are characters within the story of salvation and, as we are marked by original sin, already have part of our character written out for. Yet, like Dustfinger we have free will and are not just characters--our fate is in our own hands.

I also loved the visual of the half read out characters with words covering them--literally with their story on their face.