'Our Mr. Sun' is the worst type of religious right propaganda I've ever seen in my life. Perhaps the matter is made worse consideration the circumstances under which I viewed, that is, during a class in school. This terrible "educational" film begins with a quote from the Christian Bible. That should have tipped me off from the beginning, but I gave it a chance, one can't judge a movie by the religion of its makers. However, it simply got worse. The sketchy science, and far too convenient summations of incorrect data are bound to confuse and confound anyone who is meant to learn from this video. Five minutes spent with a modern astronomy book and one will see that most of the information in "Our Mr. Sun" is rather inaccurate and overly simplified. Of course, that was before the "comically" grumpy cartoon rendition of Father Time instructed me, and the rest of the impressionable kiddies watching, to pray to god. Perhaps this passed as appropriate in schools during 1955, but to show it now, in a high school class, no less, in hopes to genuinely learn astronomy is simply disgusting. Saint Francis was quoted, of course. Gospel music served as the soundtrack, as did Christian hymns. And cocky old Mr. Sun got his when Father Time knocked him a down a peg by reminded him that though he may provide energy for the Earth and all living things, God created them, and that people should pray to god and thank him for the great gift of the sun. Where does that leave any non-Christians? Evidently there weren't any during the 50's. There are plenty of other details to encourage good Nazi's, as well, not just Christian fundamentalists. "Dr. Research" extols the virtues of solar power and the bright shining future it can provide, given the right education and creative thinkers of tomorrow. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Sure it does, until you realized that the montage of close-ups of graduates tossing their caps into the air are all blond haired, blue-eyed Johnny Americans. It is subtle considerations such as these, and blatant Christian-right influences that further mar an initially flawed piece of worthless, potentially dangerous crap. I feel bad for any children who had to see this video when they were young. I only hope not TOO many of them were brainwashed by this terrible offensive, disturbing tripe. I'm going to go bathe once again, and hopefully wash the last of the residual scum gathered on my skin from this film off of my body. Furthermore, if you are ever forced to view this film during school at any time, and it offends you too, raise your voice, be heard, and demand that this film, others like it, and the terrible influences they contain spread be stopped.
Review of Our Mr. Sun
Our Mr. Sun
(1956 TV Movie)
One hopes the only thing learned form this is to never make anything like it again
5 November 2001