Foreign Film Series: ‘Surprised by Oxford’ lightens the mood while still promoting thought

By Teagan Warren

What is a Christian film? The discussion after the film touched on this question. Many students appeared disappointed or at least confused about the diminishment of the Gospel in the film adaptation of “Surprised by Oxford” in comparison to the memoir by Carolyn Weber. The intersection of film and faith fascinates me, so I was thrilled to write this article. Although I agreed with some of the students’ concerns, I saw the film as overwhelmingly positive.

The film covers the experience of Carolyn Weber, who has devoted her life to getting a doctorate. Her father lovingly supported her but was arrested when she was a child. Carolyn (or more commonly known as Caro in the film) now prefers to separate herself from other people and focus on her goal.

She receives a full ride scholarship to Oxford University in England, where she chooses to focus on the Romantic writers, as they are “known for their poetic feeling and longing for the infinite.” She becomes friends with Hannah and Linnea. In school, she encounters religion from the music sung by the choir to the professors she sits under.

Both frustration and intrigue find Caro in the form of Kent Weber (yes, there is automatically a spoiler there about how the story ends with that last name), a fellow student. He persistently reaches out to her. Her annoyance and contempt for his supposedly backwards Protestant ways slowly change as he and other characters like Provost Regina Knight lead her to question her secular assumptions.

I really enjoyed the dialogue between Caro and Kent. I appreciate that the filmmakers depict the way people speak in real life, for example, the funny way we say words. Caro, drunk, comments on how her computer is “ooold.” “How ooooold is it?” returns Kent. Irish actor Ruairi O’ Connor demonstrates excellent body language and adds great charm to the role of Kent, despite not being a big-name actor.

The film felt lighter than most foreign films. Some students did have complaints about the number of heavy films played, so this giddy little romance can be a welcome escape for many students. The audience was also quite involved, laughing, cheering, and providing amusing commentary on some of the unrealistic aspects of the film (which are expected elements in romance films). The relationship between Kent and Caro was very cute, and I am often not one to say that about romantic relationships.

“Surprised by Oxford” has a surprising amount of content issues in comparison to the memoir, which Professor Alicia McCartney, who led the talkback, discussed. Both Christian and non-Christian characters swear. Additionally, although Kent affirms he is a virgin, he seems to try to relieve some of the embarrassment by trying to convince Caro that he is not too chaste in a few remarks he makes. Dr. Alicia McCartney pointed out that she was not sure how Mr. Weber would have felt about such a portrayal.

When looking up the actors on IMDb, I was interested in the fact that only one of the actors, Rose Reid, who plays Carolyn in the film, seems to have played roles in multiple Christian films. The other actors’ filmography consists of secular films. One actor even appears to specialize in playing gay characters. The choice of casting can reveal the intended audience. Having actors who perform in mostly secular films, I wonder if “Surprised by Oxford” is intended to appeal to a largely secular-influenced audience.

The cinematography is gorgeous in the film. The filmmakers know that if you are going to have a film set in Oxford, you might as well show off the stunning architecture. Beyond the architecture, I appreciated the filmmakers’ use of light. A sweet moment Caro has with her father in her dark room, lit by a lamp, resembles a scene later in the film where she and Kent have an argument in her room, perhaps to demonstrate her fear of trusting anyone but herself, because of her father.

In summary, I would say that this film ultimately comes down to reconsidering your desires. Desire comes up repeatedly from Caro, speaking about her lifelong goal of education, to her reading C.S. Lewis’ “Surprised

by Joy,” to Hannah and Regina urging Caro to think about what she really wants.

Is this longing super explicitly connected to God at the end? Not in the way many had hoped it would, but I would argue that the connection to God is still strong. The film addresses the pervasive relativism that can be seen in culture today, and Caro comes to see that objective truth is real and that there is hope beyond cynicism.

Sure, the conclusion seems more Kent-focused than clearly God-focused, but I would argue that Caro displays a turned around life, Kent noticing a change in her. Her attitude has changed, and Edward, a fellow student at Oxford, asks if the rumors are true that, “You’ve joined Father Michael’s pious flock.” Caro relates to the world differently by the end, and I believe that Kent’s relationship with her could have been a symbol for God’s love, presented differently from the original memoir. In addition, the idea of grace played out in the form of a human being sits better with a non-religious audience.

I recommend “Surprised by Oxford,” but I would warn that many who have read and loved the memoir may find this romantic adaptation upsetting. Nevertheless, I think many people will enjoy the sweet, fun romance that inspires seeking the truth and reconsidering our purpose.

Surprised by Oxford is available for streaming on multiple platforms.

Teagan Warren is a senior psychology major who likes F. Scott Fitzgerald and toucans.

Images courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.