Spiritual cinema: 20 good religious films to debate and reflect

In recent weeks, two very interesting articles have been published in two media outlets that make an unusual selection of religious cinema. In the first, posted in Religion in Freedom, Fernando Alonso Barahona makes a selection of the best religious films in the history of Spanish cinema. The second article was published in the newspaper El Debate, and in it Jose Maria Sanchez Galera he chose ten works “to debate and comment on in the summer”.

Due to the interest that both selections may have for the readers of CinemaNet, we reproduce below the titles of these twenty films that -each in its own way- address Christian spirituality and the Catholic religion. The first ten are chosen by Sánchez Galera, and the last ten by Alonso Barahona.

(Quotations in quotation marks belong to these two authors)

1- Navigator, a time odyssey (1988)

Directed by Vincent Ward, available on Filmin and Movistar+. “Few films condense so brilliantly the profound differences between an essentially Christian era and one characterized by its secularization, individualism, and loss of natural, human rhythm.”

2- Silence (2016)

Directed by Martin Scorsese, available on Prime Video and Filmin. “One of Scorsese’s finest-made films, and one in which he reflects – as in the screeching The last temptation of Christ- their own concerns.

*Here you can read our review of ‘Silence’

3- You will find dragons (2011)

Directed by Roland Jofféauthor of the screams of silence either The mission. «The film raises – around Saint Josemaría [Escrivá, el fundador del Opus Dei]– several scenes and sequences of spiritual depth».

*Here you can read our review of ‘You will find dragons’

4- The powerful servant of God (2011)

Miniseries directed by Markus Rosenmuller, about the life of the German nun Pascalina Lehnert, assistant and confidant of Pius XII. “The relationship between the two, their human and religious anxieties, and the way Pacelli understands the pontificate provide healthy and profound religious reflections.”

5- Doubt (2008)

Directed by John Patrick Shanley, available on HBO Max. «An approach to sexual abuse, and the way of managing the Church, which far exceeds that proposed in spot light«.

6- Sister Citroën (1967)

Directed by Peter Lazaga, available on Movistar+. «This film emphasizes the female characters and, as was often the case in those years, opted for a update soft – without shrillness, with a tolerant smile and complete devotion – of the Church, expressed in the obvious metaphor of the Citroën 2 CV and the driving nun».

7- Catholics (1973)

Directed by Jack Gold, the film is a kind of religious dystopia. «The plot shows how the Catholic Church is supposed to end up being, which has entered a phase of factual apostasy –a syncretism with the aroma of «liberation theology» and Modernism– after a Vatican Council IV».

8- The Cardinal (1963)

Directed by Otto Premier, available on film. «One of the films that deals with the greatest respect and historical rigor the pilgrimage of the Catholic Church during the first half of the 20th century. (…) It is a story of misunderstandings and forgiveness, redemption and political persecution».

9- Johnny Mouse (1969)

Directed by Vicente Escrivá, with a script by José María Sánchez Silva. «It is a film comparable to Sister Citroën: friars who take care of children, melodrama, nobility of the soul».

10- A man for eternity (1966)

Directed by fred zinnemann and available on Movistar+. “Six well-deserved Oscars, and a story featuring a character every viewer wants to emulate: simple yet shrewd, pious yet practical, sympathetic yet firm, witty yet discreet.”

11- The harvest is great (1948)

Of Jose Luis Saenz de Herediawith Fernando Fernan Gomez Y Sarah Montiel. It narrates the misfortunes of a missionary priest who moves to India to carry out his apostolic work.

12- Balarrasa (1951)

By José Antonio Nieves Conde, with Fernando Fernán Gómez; narrates the life of a Spanish missionary. His outcome, the columnist points out, contributes to completely refute the presumed superficiality of Spanish religious cinema.

13- The Lady of Fatima (1951)

Of Raphael Gilwith Agnes Orsini Y Ferdinand King. “It combines the political background (the anti-religious offensive of the Portuguese government at the time) with the humanity of the characters (the wife of the atheist politician who attends the apparitions praying from her wheelchair)”.

14- The Jude (1952)

Of Ignacio F. Iquinowith Antonio Villar. It was the first film shot entirely in Catalan, highlights the author.

15- God’s War (1953)

Of Raphael Gilwith Claude Laidu Y Francisco Rabal. «It is a hard and surprising film for the time. (…) The story has all its edges: the social conflict in the mine, the selfishness of some employers and solidarity as a link between people and their problems».

16- The kiss of Judas (1954)

Of Raphael Gilwith rafael rivelles Y Francisco Rabal. “It’s a stunning DeMille-style historical recreation of the drama of the disciple who betrayed the Son of Man.”

17- Marcelino Bread and Wine (1954)

By Ladislao Vajda, with Pablito Calvo. An abandoned child in a convent befriends a crucified Christ in the attic of the convent: he talks to him and brings him bread, wine and other provisions he can find from the kitchen.

18- The luminous wound (1956)

Of Tulio Demicheliwith Amparo Rivelles. “The bloody wound that splashes Dr. Molinos – fantastic photograph of Georges Perinaldeveloped with the Eastmancolor – is light for the soul but death for the body».

19- Teresa of Jesus (1961)

Of Juan de Ordunawith Aurora Baptist. “A religious melodrama filmed with faith and conviction.”

20- Process to Jesus (1974)

Of Jose Luis Saenz de Herediawith Jose Maria Rodero. “A group of Sephardim (…) and an unforgettable cast of great Spanish actors represent the trial of Christ in Toledo to try to determine its legal consistency.”



Spiritual cinema: 20 good religious films to debate and reflect