Creation finds US distributor

And Newmarket Films “saw that it was good,” stepping up to the plate today to distribute Jon Amiel’s Creation. The press release reads, in part:

In CREATION, Amiel (The Singing Detective, Entrapment) and Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) bring to life a psychological love story that gives a unique and intimate perspective on Darwin, his love for his family and his deeply religious wife, and his struggle to find a balance between faith and science…

“We at Newmarket pride ourselves in getting behind important films that help open the door for discussion and conversation, as is the case with CREATION,” said Newmarket’s Chris Ball. “While Darwin’s name has come to symbolize one side of a debate between the scientific and the theological, CREATION personifies the debate, with both sides contending, sometimes violently, within the man. In that sense, we believe that the film will appeal both to people of faith and people of science.”

‚ÄúThe gala opening of CREATION at Toronto generated excitement amongst a large audience,‚Äù said Jeremy Thomas. ‚ÄúEvery producer wants to share his belief in a film with a distributor, and in Newmarket I have found a group who are passionate about reaching a wide audience with CREATION. I think back to what they did with The Passion of the Christ, a very different film but one that also challenged people’s ideas, and am happy to be working with people who can achieve this. We hope the debate doesn‚Äôt get in the way of what is a human story, with bigger issues at its core.‚Äù

Very smart handling of a subject that’s ridiculously touchy to certain factions in America: Invoke The Passion of the Christ, spotlight Darwin’s own inner turmoil, and emphasize that his wife was a devout Christian. Whatever works. While it’s not likely to inspire the touchiest fundamentalists to see Creation, those people are beyond redemption anyway. On the other hand, bringing up Passion might remind people who disliked that movie that there are films being made for the rest of us, and encourage those left behind by Mel Gibson to rally ’round Creation. Let us pray.