A Severe Mercy--The Movie

Great news! I just read today that a company has purchased the rights to develop A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken into a film, and someone is beginning to work on a script for the movie. To read more about it click here: A Severe Mercy.

A Severe Mercy is one of my favorite books of all time. I was blessed to correspond with Sheldon Vanauken and meet him twice during the last year of his life. To learn more about him and the book click here: www.willvaus.com/sheldon_vanauken.

Comments

Anonymous said…

What a delight to have stumbled upon your blog tonight, at the end of a series of oddly connected steps: a question on a forum had me relating "must read" books that included several of Lewis's and a conscious but difficult decision to leave off Vanauken in favor of Paul Elie's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage".

That inspired a post on my own Catholic blog about Elie's book, in which I mentioned that I'd purchased it at the same used bookstore at the same time as "A Severe Mercy", neither of which I'd ever heard of before.

My own mention reminded me how I'd loved Vanauken's book (and its sequel, and Encounter with Light) and I ran a blog search for his name...and learned of this movie.

The idea made me uneasy, but having followed your link and read a bit from the lady in charge, I'm feeling quite hopeful.

1:59 AM

Will Vaus said…

Glad to make your acquaintance Tiffany. I too am hopeful for the movie of ASM. I have wanted to see a movie made of this story ever since Van's death in 1996.

Go under the mercy!

2:34 PM

Liza on Maui said…

This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE too :)

3:25 AM

Anonymous said…

hi Will.
I've just graduated from University of York (UK). Enjoyed v.much 'Severe Mercy'! Do you know if the film will be over in the UK soon?
If you're ever over in England, please do come to speak at our University Christian Union on C.S.Lewis!
Ed Veale

1:39 PM

Will Vaus said…

Dear Anonymous,

The movie version of "A Severe Mercy" is still in the very early stages of pre-production: script-writing, fundraising, etc. So I wouldn't expect to see it on the big screen in the UK or in America any time soon. Until then, we can all enjoy re-reading the book!

7:22 AM

Anonymous said…

Hello Will,

I am just reading A Severe Mercy for the first time and came across your blog through looking for information on the film.

I see that this post announcing the production is over a year old, I wonder if you happen to know any details about what progress has been made since then?

I'm glad to have found your blog; it seems to be a great CSL resource.

yours,
Julia

4:24 PM

Will Vaus said…

Dear Julia,

I am glad you have found the blog and even more happy for you that you are reading "A Severe Mercy" for the first time. You have such treats in store!

I don't know much more about what is happening with the movie other than the fact that Barb Nicolosi is still working on the script and that Origin Entertainment is still raising money to make the movie.

If you like the Lewis stuff on my blog you will like my web site even better www.willvaus.com.

Stay in touch.

Blessings,
Will

5:46 PM

alex said…

I just had to read this book for Theology and we were on the topic of pain and suffering. Lets be honest this book was terrible it was a waste of my time and it was pointless. Every quiz I took I got a zero and so I literally hate this book. Its the reason I have to take sophomore theology over again

6:00 PM

Will Vaus said…

Alex, how about telling me WHY you didn't like this book....

7:56 PM

Bonnie Yvonne Wolfman said…

I was an aftercare counselor for a funeral home, and met with a doctor who had just lost his wife. He was also a lapsed Christian, and had walked away from God.

As I was praying and asking God the direction for this grieving man. A Severe Mercy came to mind, and I told him about the book. He wrote it down and I did not see him again for several months.

I was at an event with Ben Carson speaking and felt these big arms around me, and a voice saying, thank you, thank you, thank you. It was the doctor, and he shared that when he read the book, he felt the sense of God coming back into his life. He ended up reestablishing his relationship with Jesus, and now remarried to a wonderful Christian women, they are both serving the Lord. He also said that he brought a case of the books and gave them away.

It was a blessing to see God bring great restoration in this man's life after such a catastrophic loss.

I thought I would share the life changing aspect of the book.

For me, it had a profound affect on my life many years ago when I first read it, and have reread it since. It is a beautiful book. I am a songwriter and have written some love songs that I believe were the offshoot of this reading...

3:22 PM

Will Vaus said…

Thank you for sharing that story. I believe, based upon reading Van's letter log of people who wrote to him about ASM, that your story could be multiplied many times, though everyone's story is unique in some ways.

You might enjoy reading my biography of Sheldon Vanauken, available on Amazon and my web site: http://willvaus.com

Under the Mercy,
Will

4:07 PM

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