Catch Me if You Can Synopsis At an age when most boys would be thinking of little more than homecoming dances and high school crushes, Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) worked as an airline co-pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer... without ever graduating high school. He also passed fraudulent checks totaling over 2 million dollars. All this before he turned 21 years of age. As hard as it may be to believe, his is a true story and serves as the inspiration for Catch Me If You Can. At sixteen, Frank left home in an emotional reaction to hearing the news of his parents' pending divorce. With no money and no place to live, Frank finds that he must rely upon his wits, charm, and considerable luck in order to get by. Seeing the respect paid to men in uniform, he dons an airline pilot's uniform and passes himself off as a Pan American co-pilot. Not only does this enable him to travel the world free of charge, it gives him instant credibility and check cashing privileges at every bank he visits. Thus begins his life of subterfuge. Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is an FBI expert in check fraud and takes on the challenge of capturing the elusive Frank. Only Carl has the perspective of truly understanding and appreciating the depth of deception Frank has attained in this relatively new type of crime. As the chase continues, the growing symbiotic relationship between Frank and Carl becomes the only real element to Frank's life of lies and pretense. This is an enjoyable cat and mouse game, where the mouse is infinitely smarter than the cat, but the cat has got time and tenacity on his side. The Message There's plenty of interesting discussion within Catch Me If You Can, but one subtle negative message must be exposed first. For the majority of the film, Frank's life of crime provides excitement and rewards. The symbol of law and justice, is a boring, lonely killjoy. Thus, the film seems to declare, "Crime may not pay, but it's a blast!" Frank eventually suffers for his crimes, but probably not enough to outweigh the fabulous wealth he accrued before and after getting caught. Films don't make people break the law, but they can make criminal behavior sparkle like the apple on the Tree of Knowledge, so be aware of this misrepresentation. The film also contains strong messages about divorce, imitation, stealing, and judgment. First, the Abagnale's divorce sparks Frank's wayward ways. He steals in the hope that his wealth will restore his fractured family. While divorce doesn't automatically drive a child to social deviance, it always includes emotional injury. God might not erase the pain, but he can bring healing to every emotional wound. On a different note, Frank uses his impersonation abilities to do wrong, and it's our spiritual duty to do good by imitating Christ. As his followers, we should look and act more like Jesus every day. Study, prayer, worship, and discipline encourage this transformation. You are challenged to throw yourself into "impersonating" Christ with the same gusto that Frank dedicated to his various escapades. It's easy to make another obvious spiritual connection by talking about Frank's theft of money, services, trust, and hearts. Few people rob so blatantly. Many, however, steal in seemingly "insignificant" ways-time from employers, miscounted change at the store, answers from tests, a second movie at the cineplex, burned music CDs, etc. Turn a microscope on daily life, helping your students spot the splinters in their lives that need to be plucked out. Finally, Hanratty repeatedly tells Frank he can't flee forever. Sooner or later, justice will be rendered. Frank has a long run, but eventually he pays dearly for his transgressions, proving both Hanratty and God's word correct. God promises to judge all our misdeeds either on earth or before his judgment seat. Nothing remains hidden eternally. That's why it's important to seek forgiveness and atonement as quickly as possible. Consequences only grow with time, and repentance starts the restoration process. The film does make it clear that the one person who could have had the most influence upon Frank and directed him to more law-abiding pursuits was his father. But Frank's dad was too wrapped up in his own failings to recognize or correct the wrongful path his son was taking. If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 12:8 The above uses a figure of speech but the point God is making is that we all require the reproof and correction of our loving parents to ensure we grow in accordance with the laws of God and man. Scriptures Pro 19:18 Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction. Pro 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Adultery Adultery not only scars those who commit it but also their families. Frank catches his mother alone with Jack Barnes. Jack spins a thin story about looking for Frank Sr., but it's obvious that something inappropriate is happening between Jack and Frank's mom. Adultery tears lives apart. Period. Absolutely no justification or exception exists for this destructiveness. True, God's grace runs deep and covers everything, but adultery leaves deep scars not only on the partners but also on their families and friends. Discuss how people can find protection from adultery and how they can recover from its effects. Discussion Questions:  ·Just what does the term "adultery" cover? ·What reasons do people give to justify or excuse their adultery? Is there any excuse for committing adultery? Why or why not? ·What consequences does adultery have spiritually? physically? socially? ·Read aloud Proverbs 6:32-35. What makes adultery so destructive? Pro 6:32 He who commits adultery has no sense; he who does it destroys himself. Pro 6:33 Wounds and dishonor will he get, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. Pro 6:34 For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. Pro 6:35 He will accept no compensation, nor be appeased though you multiply gifts. ·What do you think are the small steps that lead to eventually committing adultery? ·How can you guard yourself now, even before you're married, from taking any steps that might lead to adultery in the future? ·If a parent commits adultery, how can children find healing?  Other Topics for discussion: Greed Theme: Greed is an appetite that we can never satisfy. Frank pays for his hotel room with a check and asks to cash a personal check. The hotel will cash his check for up to $100 and payroll checks up to $300. Frank immediately figures out how to forge an endless supply of payroll checks. Greed doesn't necessarily convince us to steal money by forging checks, but it does drive us to accumulate more and more without end. Discontent feeds greed. Help your young people understand that turning toward God and his gifts is the only way to overcome greed and allow God's peace to reign in our lives. Discussion Questions:  ·What things might people be greedy about other than money? ·What attitudes or desires fuel people's greed? ·Do you consider yourself a greedy person? Why or why not? ·Read aloud Hebrews 13:5-6. Can a person "learn" to be content? Why or why not? Hbr 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." Hbr 13:6 Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" ·Can a greedy person ever find peace and happiness? Why or why not? ·In what area of your life do you think you're most vulnerable to feelings of greed? What would help you most to overcome these feelings? OUR WORD TO THE WISE: Here's a quick summary of the content found in this drama/caper that's been rated PG-13. Profanity is surprisingly minimal for this day and age. Some brief, sexually related dialogue is present, as is some sexual flirting and a sexual encounter that's heard just off camera. Tense family material involves a divorce and parents disowning a girl who gets pregnant out of wed lock (although they do take her back). Some impressionable kids might be enticed to imitate some of the con artistry and forging of checks that occurs. A bloody boy (from an accident) is seen in a hospital. Various characters drink or smoke. BLOOD/GORE  While serving as a doctor, Frank has to see an emergency room case where a boy has blood all over him and what looks like a small bloody hole in his leg. After getting others to handle that, he goes into a janitor's room and we hear him vomit. PROFANITY  At least 1 "f" word, 1 "s" word (with 2 more possible ones), 2 slang terms using female genitals ("p*ssy" as in the first name of a character from an old James Bond film), 1 slang term for breasts ("t*t"), 3 damns, 3 hells, 6 uses of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "Christ," "Jesus" and "God Almighty" as exclamations. SEX/NUDITY  ·We hear the rhythmic sounds of a woman repeatedly exclaiming "Yes!" as Frank has sex with a stewardess (which isn't seen). We then see him on top of her after they're done. ·A banker worker comes on to Frank while showing him how checks work in a bank. She holds a check up in front of her clothed chest and then pulls it away just as he starts to point at it so that he ends up pointing at her chest. ·One of Carl's new partners recounts his days of being an undercover vice agent and mentions that he thought he was going to "shoot my t*ts off" while reaching for his gun and dressed as a woman. ·A sultry woman, Cheryl, comes on to Frank Jr. and asks how much he'd be willing to pay for a night with her. When he finally says $1,000, she says okay (and sex is implied).