The Forbidden Room In a human’s life span, they have always wondered on the belief of faith. In our lives, there was always a wonder if there was or there is someone who has major power. Such as in an older time, people have thought there was a man who showed a path to opportunity. Religious humans believe that the matter of a book and good actions can reflect what should be great in this world. In “Room 8”, James Griffiths tells a story of two English men in a prison cell discussing the importance of a mysterious red box. Through symbolism and imagery, Griffiths presents a story about the opportunity humans can receive by faith. Relating to faith, key symbols have shown the idea of opportunity. While the prisoner entered the cell, he first views a book on the top bunk of the bed. The title of the book is Death on the Hills by Apollon Nikolayevich Maykov who was a Russian poet best known for his lyric verse, showcasing images of unspeakable Russian history. The title itself could have been a big clue of what his life ahead of him would be. Even though he did not focus on the book, other clues led to the prisoner’s faith. In the film, the main symbol was the red box, which showed a path to opportunity. When the prisoner had opened the box, he was astonished of what the box was capable of. He had viewed the box as a path way to freedom. Since he did not think it through, he did not pick the right path and he suffered the consequences. Fascinated towards the box, the prisoner did not focus much on the older man. The prisoner had not focused much on the older man due to him having a lack of conversation. Reflecting on what the older man was trying to do, he gave the prisoner a chance to his own path but if he did not pick the correct path then he would lose his chance. In a religious aspect, the older man can be viewed as someone with major powers such as a deity; more importantly, like Satan. In biblical theology, it tells the story of Adam and Eve being tempted into eating from the forbidden fruit. In this story a snake persuades them to eat the fruit, but god tells them not to. Since the prisoner was tempted into escaping, people can relate the prisoner’s situation like Adam and Eve’s situation. Through the film, imagery has shown an encounter to the viewer’s actions. In the very beginning of the film, it showed a man going to prison; however, it made a clear view of the outskirts of the prison. The atmosphere showed a gloomy dark setting, which gave the feeling of something wicked about to happen. A religious myth states when there is a gloomy almost “sinful” weather, it means that god is sad of what is happening. Relating to the film, it can foreshadow that the prisoner will get into trouble or enter a wrong path while in prison. After the prisoner has entered his room, he sees an older man already in the cell; however, he does not focus on him that much. When he explores the cell, he sees a red box on the bottom bunk of the bed. As the prisoner is intrigued of the box, he soon discovers that he touches his own finger. Viewing this, it can represent the famous painting of Michelangelo, The Creation of Man. It depicts God’s creation of man by contacting their fingers between them representing a breath of life being transmitted. In the film, the prisoner is amazed that he touches his own finger; yet, he is not wise and does not think about what the situation really is. Once the prisoner figures out the ‘magic’ of the box, he tries to escape. Although the prisoner escapes, the older man captures him in a match box. The match box can be looked at on what matches actually do. Because matches light on fire, the prisoner can be viewed as him being a match and burning in fire. In many perspectives, the prisoner can be considered that he is impacted into a smaller area. Since the match box can represent hell; the prisoner is suffering because he cannot get out. In conclusion, the film can present a story about the opportunity humans can receive by faith due to key symbols and imagery. Providing that symbols such as the books, the box and the older man can prove that faith is a main concept of our opportunities in life. As well as imagery proving that there is someone in a higher power looking out for the choices we make. Is it true that there is a person of higher power looking out for everyone’s actions?