Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on November 01, 2008 at 21:30:49

In Reply to: RE: What is your favorite religious film? posted by patrickU on November 01, 2008 at 09:03:01

...Danish director Carl Dreyer. Joan, an early silent masterpiece (IMO one of the greatest films ever lensed, which has been discussed here before) and Ordet ("The Word") his later, mature masterpiece, which is just as beautiful a film, if not so startlingly groundbreaking. I've never seen the meaning of "faith" explored better than in Ordet. The climax of the film is one of the most moving and powerful scenes in cinema. If you allow yourself to fall into the rythms of Ordet, it will just sweep you along.

Pasolini's "The The Gospel According to St. Matthew" would also have to be right up there...no doubt the best filmic depiction of Jesus ever, albeit selectively so (Pasolini was a gay, Marxist atheist, whoda thunk he would portray Jesus so movingly, although the political angle is right there). The cast of non-professional actors is remarkable, and they look like "real" people of the era, with not northern European, sanitized face to be found.

I have a deep fondness for "The Apostle", both Robert Duvall's wonderful performance and for its convincing snapshot of the realities of southern evangelical life. It's all very low key and small scale, just like the counstryside on a hot southern day. The Apostle makes a good companion piece to Duvall's Oscar winning performance in Tender Mercies, another small jewell of a (non-religious) film.

I think one of the most interesting films about religion - one usually overlooked - is Michael Tolkin's haunting 1991 movie "The Rapture", starring Mimi Rogers in maybe her best ever performance. This story of a personal search, conversion and obsession pulls no punches and is not an easy watch. Not for the faint hearted but worth the effort. The Rapture also stars a very young David Duchovny (who is quite good BTW).

Honorable mention to Scorsese's "The Last Temptation Of Christ", which is an honorable effort and quite intereesting once you get past the accents. I remember being in NYC when it premiered with all the attendant protests and hullabaloo from outranged evangelicals...who, of course, hadn't actually seen it. (Nor read the novel on which it was based.)