How to Depict Religion Powerfully on the Screen
It’s easy to be superficial about Christianity on screen: a character’s offhand remark, a shot of a crucifix or rosary, or a quick scene of prayer does the trick. A serious screen treatment of...
Lee’s Strange Vampire Saga Turns Sour in Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
Spike Lee took a bunch of provocative ideas, put them in a blender, and poured out Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, an audacious but muddled character study that nevertheless proves the veteran filmmaker can...
Berlin Film Review: ‘Golden Kingdom’
A cultivated sense of calm — no more or less than you’d expect from a study of Buddhist practice — permeates “Golden Kingdom,” an impressively disciplined, occasionally transporting debut feature from globe-trotting American helmer...
Red alert as controversial religious film hits India theaters
The northern Indian state of Haryana was put on high alert on Friday for the launch of a controversial film featuring the head of a religious sect who claims to be a messenger of...
Boyhood – Gender (and Religion?)
From Cinema through Sociology & Anthropology This is evident in films that try, or pretend, to portray religious characters, who embrace morality as service to others or, at least, as loving others. They risk becoming emasculated. Thus,...
Christian Film Market Offers More Than Just Entertainment, Hollywood Publicist Says
From The Christian Post Hollywood’s Christian film market continues to expand thanks to a growing consumer appetite for faith-based films. One Hollywood publicist believes that ultimately, Christian films have the potential to extend beyond...
Echo of the Mountain (Variety film review)
From Variety Long fascinated by indigenous Huichol culture, noted Mexican documentary/features helmer Nicolas Echevarria (“Cabeza de Vaca”) turns his artistically sensitive, respectful eye toward master muralist Santos de la Torre in the beautifully made if...
Snow In Paradise: Why Positive Takes On Religion Are Vital In Cinema
From The Hollywood News SNOW IN PARADISE is an incredibly powerful story, rooted in the possibility of finding a way out of darkness and bad choices through the comforting welcome of a religious community...
Exaltation – Fundraiser – Hartley Film Foundation
From the Hartley Film Foundation Few things are consistent throughout human history. The use of dance as an expression of culture and self-expression, and as a method of veneration to higher powers, is one...
As It Is In Heaven (Overbay, 2014) – Filmwell review
From Filmwell As It Is In Heaven is a hushed film; a quiet film in the way of Gitai’s Kadosh or Reygadas’ Silent Light when these films are focused on the ritual lives of...