Analysis of short film “Johnny Lingo (1969)”

We can see Jesus even in the heroes of humanity.

Mr. Harris (referring to Mahana)— “You mean that little shadow that comes in once in a while for a spool of thread?”

Tulo—“She has a face like a stone and she looks like she missed too many meals. She’s not young either…. Moki long ago gave up hope of finding a husband for her….  The whisper is that he (Johnny Lingo) can get her for nothing…. I only know what they are saying.”

Moki (Mahana’s father, at his home)—“Mahana. Mahana! Where is that girl. Mahana! She knows today is the bargaining day! I’ll beat her! She is a foolish as she is ugly…. He (Johnny Lingo) doesn’t want to pay a three-legged cow for her.” (Mahana, up in a tree, hears her father’s insults. To his counselor friend, Mahi, Moki says,) “You don’t know what it’s like to have a homely daughter, Mahi. I’m ready to give him a cow, just to have him take her off my hands. And I will count myself fortunate, just to be rid of her. She is no comfort hugging the corners of the hut, speaking in whispers. And never looking at me! This is what comes, Mahi, of buying a 2-cow wife. Look at you, Mahi. You paid 4 cows for your wife and she gave you beautiful daughters. Your investment has been doubled.”

Mahi—“I see her (pointing up in the tree where Mahana has been hiding and listening to her father’s depredation of her self-worth).”

Moki (looking up at his daughter)—“Mahana, you ugly, today is the day of bargaining. Come down and meet your husband to be! Mahana, I will not have this. Shall I follow you up there with a stick? Do you want me to put bruises all over you so that Johnny Lingo will see what a disobedient daughter you are?

Moki (interrupted by distant voices of the islanders following Johnny Lingo)—“I hear them. They come! (He and Mahi get the mats laid out for the bargaining. Tulo sees Mahana up in the tree and gestures to the others that she is there.)

Walking up to Moki, Johnny Lingo strongly inquires of him, “Where is Mahana?” Mahi and Moki invent a story about Mahana being out picking up materials to mend the roof because she is always busy fixing everything.

(Bargaining formalities begin as the two sit on the mats.)

Johnny Lingo—“I seek the father of Manaha.”

Moki—“I am Manaha’s father. What is it you want?”

Johnny Lingo—“I wish to take Mahana for my wife.”

Moki (hypocritically, using words that infer that he is demanding a high price)—“It is hard for a man to give his daughter to another.”

Johnny Lingo (clearly reading Moki’s avarice)—“I am prepared to pay. How many cows do you wish for Mahana?”

(Tulo whispers to the people—“One cow is all he can ask. One cow.” And all the people believe Tulo).”

Moki (wanting a real deal, he looks up at Mahi)—“I will consult with my counselor (as he gets up to talk with Mahi).”

Discussion between two self-confident island women—“If he asks for two cows, Johnny Lingo will settle for one. If he asks for one cow, Johnny Lingo will settle for the horns and the tail. He is the sharpest trader in all the islands.”

Moki—“They will think I’m crazy.”

Mahi—“You are crazy if you don’t listen to me! I am your counselor.”

(End of discussion between the two island wives)—“I am a four-cow wife, myself.”

(First island wife, swelling in greater pride)—“Really? My husband paid five cows for me!”

Second island wife, in humiliated pride—“Humph!” (They both look up and turn away from each other in mutual disgust.)

Another wife to an elderly wife who nods in agreement—“One cow.”

Moki (having finished counseling with Mahi, he sits back down for the final bargain and firmly, announces)—“Three cows!”

Surprised, everyone has a long hilarious laugh, while Mahana in the tree turns away, badly belittled and totally destroyed. But, Johnny silences them with his hand. You can hear a pin drop.

Johnny Lingo—“Three cows is many. But, not enough for Mahana. I will pay eight cows!”

Mahana turns around to look down upon Johnny as everyone appears aghast with mouths dropped open, and Moki just stares in dumb amazement.

Johnny Lingo—“I will bring them [the eight cows] in the morning. Tomorrow night will be the wedding festival. Then Mahana and I will leave the honeymoon place. Is it agreeable?”

Moki (in a daze)—“Agreeable.”

They shake hands, and Johnny walks through the arrogant, ignorant, earthly-minded crowd and leaves.

Later, Tulo, laughing, says to Mr. Harris about Johnny paying eight cows for Mahana, “It can be only two things. Either he is crazy, or he is blind.”

To watch this 23 minute film, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTpqyelYcnk

Johnny remembers the love he and Mahana had many years ago, and he knows that that old, childhood trust and love can be reborn. Jesus, our Creator, remembers the beauty that He saw in Adam and Eve. The glory He had with them remained fresh in His mind ever since their departure from Eden. Despite the ravages upon our original glory, the harrassment of our spiteful and destructive lord, Jesus can see in us what no one else can see.

But, the people’s rudeness and careless treatment toward Mahana comes from the natural self-confidence of the sinful heart of man. An easy life in a family that loved one another does not automatically safeguard anyone from the work of sin. Their whole life they can go arrogantly onward destroying the downtrodden. Even if they destroy others while laughing, they are still guilty. They are probably even more guilty since they cajole anyone who might have rebuked them for their lack of mercy, and so they go on through life preventing any possibility of being stopped.

“There is none righteous, no not one.
There is none that understandeth...
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

And the way of peace have they not known:

There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom. 3:10,11,13-18).

They are like the Reese monkeys in the experiment that analyzed the different emotional characteristics between monkeys that were raised with a mothers’ love and one that was raised without any love. Just like Mahana hugging the corners of her hut and whispering to herself, the monkey who was fed and given the bare necessities of life, but never got loved, huddled to itself in the presence of the other monkeys that had mothers and had a large social network, war-mongering monkeys that heckled and screamed and threw sticks at the distraught, unloved monkey.

Similarly, humanity has been disconnected from the continuous flow of abundant love and life from the great Father of all. His Spirit has been cut off from this one world of intelligent beings, and another master has had charge of their upbringing. His loveless method of rearing the defenseless children of Adam has been to threaten, to harass, and to insult, and finally, when the first three methods didn’t make them produce beauty and joy, their master has beaten and badly bruised them.

But, the Son of God found His Father’s heavenly home a place not to be desired while they were bound and mistreated under the captivity of Satan. So He went on a far journey to their wilderness planet to buy them back from their tyrannical ruler. He forewarned their totalitarian tyrant of His rescue for humanity, “It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15). Jesus, the Comforter, has always been “a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” (Isa. 25:4). He kept them encouraged until He could come and deliver them.

As Johnny Lingo said, “Then, always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for Mahana”, likewise the cost would be extremely high for Christ’s purchase of His bride, His redeemed church. Jesus says, “Then, always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that [Jesus] paid [an infinite damnation] for [His church]”. But their deliverance would always and forever be remembered. Not only by His redeemed bride, but also by all the intelligent universe, the price He paid for Earth will be the great topic throughout eternity. The bride’s song will be Mahana’s. “The LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve…. The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” “Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in…distress”, “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”.

“For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.” (Isa. 14:1-8).

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the LORD GOD omnipotent reigneth.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to HIM: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev. 19:5-8).

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.

And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:11-16).

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest.” (Isa 25:9,10).

“O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

For Thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.

Therefore shall the strong people glorify Thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear Thee.

For Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” (Isa. 25:1-4).

“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

And after these things I saw another Angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with His glory.

 And He cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

And I heard another VOICE from heaven, saying, Come out of her, MY people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and GOD hath remembered her iniquities.

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the LORD GOD who judgeth her….

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the LORD our GOD:

For true and righteous are HIS judgments: for HE hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of HIS servants at her hand.

And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped GOD that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.” (Rev. 17:16-18:8, 19:1-4).

“Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low….

And He shall spread forth His hands in the midst of them, as He that swimmeth spreadeth forth His hands to swim: and He shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.

And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall He bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.” (Isa. 25:5,11,12).

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great VOICE out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and GOD HIMSELF shall be with them, and be their GOD.

And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And HE said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And HE said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his GOD, and he shall be MY son….

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from GOD,

Having the glory of GOD: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” (Rev. 21:1-7,9-12).

“And I saw no temple therein: for the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of GOD did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie….

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of GOD and of the Lamb.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of GOD and of the Lamb shall be in it; and HIS servants shall serve HIM:

And they shall see HIS face; and HIS name shall be in their foreheads.

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD GOD giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 21:22-22:5).

“And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

And HE will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

HE will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of HIS people shall HE take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isa. 25:6-8).