Print Issue: November 14, 2002

"Tuck Everlasting" - Does Movie Plot Parallel Catholic Belief In Eternal Life?

By KATHERINE MOZZONE, For The Bulletin

ATLANTA - Unfortunately, I am not a big fan of tearjerkers, so honestly "Tuck Everlasting" did not turn out to be one of my favorite movies.

I can, however, appreciate the plot and acting by Sissy Spacek, Jonathan Jackson, Alexis Bledel and William Hurt, just to name a few.

The film, based on the award-winning novel by Natalie Babbitt, is based upon the concept of everlasting life. After drinking from a spring in the woods, the Tuck family realizes they no longer grow older and cannot die. One day, Winnie (Bledel) escapes into her father's woods where the family lives. Fearing that they could be discovered, the family requires Winnie to stay with them until they feel it is appropriate to release her again.

Obviously, Catholics do not live eternally on Earth but we do, however, believe that one can live eternally through Christ. It is true that the Tucks were once susceptible to death. However, when they first drank from the spring of life, they could live eternally. As Catholics, our 'spring' is the waters of baptism in Christ which gives us eternal life.

Furthermore, in the same way Winnie is first wary of the Tucks, so were others often cautious of Catholics and even now some are persecuted for their Catholic background. After spending time with them, though, she discovered they were worthy of her respect and love. Frankly, I do not know for certain what exactly Babbitt had in mind when writing "Tuck Everlasting," whether it actually be Catholicism or pure fantasy, but I think the movie and Catholicism have many similarities.