For 12 weeks in the summer 2026, I taught a course called “The Communion of Cinema.” Participants from Blacknall Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC, gathered and considered how movies can deepen our faith, strengthen our love for one another, and shape how we see the world. We considered four levels of meaning and introduced cinematic concepts that filmmakers use to instill a type of theology. It was a rich and rewarding time of learning for all who joined.
But we also understood that meaning isn’t one-directional or the same for every person. Yes, filmmakers can have a certain meaning or viewpoint they want to convey, but as believers in Christ, imbued with the Holy Spirit, we carry Christ with us wherever we go and can see him anywhere. We have that ability, which is incredibly exciting. The Bible tells us in Romans 1:19-20 that God’s invisible qualities are imprinted on the world. So even when filmmakers aren’t intending to convey Christ or his teaching in their work, it happens more than you think.
Through the Communion of Cinema, we can find these things together in fellowship and conversation. Out of this class, members grew and developed in their ability to find spiritual riches across cinematic storytelling. These recommendations are testaments to their understanding and are offered as gifts to those looking for a good meaningful flick.
Please note: the ask of each learner was to recommend a movie that they found spiritually meaningful, regardless of content rating, genre, or year created. These are not "faith-based" films, and readers should make their own decision as to if the film is for you. Recommendation authors were asked to include content warnings or potential trigger warnings they would give a friend if applicable.
A black monolith of unknown origin appears millions of years ago and then reappears in the future. Throughout history, it heralds evolution and violence in equal measure, sounding a silent warning bell that hints at the cost of progress. 2001: A SPACE ODDYSEY is a rich epic that presents to us how mankind responds to the unknown and conflict, how scientific advances can harm as they attempt to bring us closer to understanding, and how the vastness of our universe is comfortably unexplainable. There are opportunities to meditate on themes during the movie — to seek peace in our eternal God and to discern the limits of our humanness. This leisurely paced film may test the patience of viewers who prefer action-packed plots. The open-ended ending will frustrate viewers who like clear answers about meaning.
— Paul Alberti
In this nonlinear, leisurely paced film with a strong sense of place, Mack grows up in rural Mississippi and experiences the full range of human experiences. The director takes an intimate approach in filming Mack and her loved ones, lingering on hugs and gentle touches. More of a poem than a narrative arc, this movie is a sensory exploration of Black family and community through one precious life. The attention the director gives Mack may bring to mind the love and care that God feels for each one of His creations.
— Lindsey Dunn
After Pentecostal preacher Sonny discovers his wife is having an affair, he beats the man into a coma and flees the scene. He then settles in Louisiana and lays down roots, starting a new church and injecting life into the community. Robert Duvall wrote, directed, and starred in this movie about a deeply flawed preacher whose life takes unexpected turns. He prays and relies on the Holy Spirit to guide him, and sometimes he shines as a light to others—so why does he sometimes do unwise, even horrifying, things? The film gives no easy answers, but invites us to ponder: How does God work with and move among human beings, given that we’re all deeply flawed? Can we see God’s love and grace in the midst of our screwed-up lives?
— Liz Shively
Two unmarried sisters and their strict father who live on the harsh coast of Denmark grow in their understanding of God’s love and grace when they take in a French refugee. Her lavish cooking enchants them with the reminder that life does not always need to be unrelenting and austere. This visually stunning and meditative movie is a spiritually nourishing treat for the soul. It challenges small views of God (especially the tendency to see him as a killjoy), and addresses the life-giving power of art in both faith and community. Also a great movie for foodies! The film is suitable for all ages but may not hold the attention of young children (who may also object to certain dishes they see cooked!). The film won an Oscar for best international feature that year and is in Danish with English subtitles.
— Maija Samei
Despite its prehistoric setting, THE CROODS is a family feature with a surprisingly tender and relatable premise. Tissues are recommended. Teenage girl Eep (Emma Stone) longs for a life outside her small, prehistoric family’s routine. Their home is destroyed, she meets a teenage boy (Ryan Reynolds), and everyone deals with these things differently as they journey to find a new place to live. The animation is saturated and magical, clean and sparkling, sweeping us away to lush and bigger-than-life places. The story has humor and warmth and deals with family dynamics and how families (as an institution and individually) respond to change. But what gets me is the scene-stealing character arc of the dad, voiced by Nicolas Cage. Grug is the protector of the household and takes his role seriously. As his daughter dips a toe outside that circle of safety — taking the family with her — he begins to feel like a failure. Our hearts break and then cheer as his carefully constructed self-image cracks and reforms into a truer shape of what protecting his family looks like. It isn’t a far leap to call him a Jesus figure as he stands at the precipice of a chasm between a falling world and an Eden, with a very tough choice to make.
— Devon Flaherty
Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes (Andy Griffith) is a womanizing drifter discovered by a local radio program host, Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal). Lonesome uses his down-home charisma to become an influential national media star, and Marcia Jeffries goes along for the ride. In that ride to the top, he uses others and is used by others. Made almost 70 years ago, this film eerily seems to predict aspects of our world today like influencer culture and the easy way fame can come and go. Lonesome is a tragic and morally complex character that we follow down a doomed path. We witness his manic charisma that masks a deep longing to be seen and accepted. Looking for love and finding only those who want to use him for their own purposes, we can only watch a trail of heartache that Lonesome absorbs and sends right back out to the universe. Watching may help viewers understand the deep longings of a heart and the many damaging ways we look for fulfillment. Tar Heels may be amazed at this nuanced and incredible performance of Andy Griffith, best known for his quaint and cozy depiction of small-town life.
— Mark Atkinson
Leprosy wreaks havoc on the body but can’t harm a soul with gratitude. This film focuses on people in Iran who live in a leper colony in the 1960s. Images don’t hide the damage that leprosy causes, but the camera refuses to allow viewers to reduce these humans to people we should pity. They run, play, fight, and live. Pity reduces a person to an object we can view from a distance and feel better because we said “poor little thing.” Instead the voice narrates Holy scriptures that name these souls creations that God has lovingly made, ones he pursues and cares for. The juxtaposition of poetry, scripture, and images of people living in the world that God made is a living testament to Imago Dei.
— Lindsey Dunn
As the prehistoric ice age advances, countless creatures migrate south. Most travel with their packs, herds, or tribes, but the story focuses on three loners: Sid, the irritating sloth; Manny, the morose mammoth; and Diego, a saber-toothed tiger with a hidden agenda. These three unlikely companions come across a human baby who’s also been separated from his kind. He’s cute, and he’s helpless — but he’s part of a species that has brought death and devastation to many animals. A choice lies before the travelers each day: what to do with this baby? Abandon it, kill it, or try to return it?
Set and filmed around Winston-Salem, JUNEBUG tells the story of George, who brings his glamorous art-dealer girlfriend Madeleine from Chicago to North Carolina to cultivate a relationship with an eccentric folk artist and to visit his parents, his brother Johnny, and his sister-in-law Ashley (Amy Adams). It’s a poignant family story about the challenge of coming home, about middle-class life in North Carolina, and about how shame operates in families. Along the way are some moving scenes that reveal both beautiful and hard things about evangelical Christianity in the South. For anyone who loves North Carolina and who wants to know it better. NC connection: One of the family members works at Replacements, Ltd., a highway marker that almost every Tar Heel has driven by at least once.
— Warren Kinghorn
The movie follows the relationship and careers of Sebastian, a jazz pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress. As their careers take off, they struggle with what they’re willing to sacrifice for love and their ambitions. I love musicals because, for me, music helps explain and give meaning to moments in a film, and I can then take that meaning into my own life. I especially like the opening scene, where drivers who are stuck in traffic suddenly get out of their cars and begin to sing and dance. I spend a lot of time “stuck” in school carline, and this scene helps me, in a small way, “redeem” carline. While I don’t get out of the car and sing and dance, I do sometimes do so in the car.
The film also explores an alternative ending and the idea of wondering how things might have been. I like thinking about the possibilities of what could have happened, while also accepting what actually did happen and finding joy and contentment in reality. LA LA LAND reminds us to appreciate each moment as a gift and opportunity. It also happens to have great music.
— Mary Taylor
Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law’s home. The only problem is that she’s not real — she’s a sex doll
Lars ordered off of the internet. Sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he’s crazy, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet-natured boy that they’ve always loved. A surprising movie at every turn, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL shows a true portrait of community and how support sometimes means not addressing the elephant in the room for a time. There’s a whole lot of truth hidden at the center of this plot for those who seek it. When he doctor says, “Bianca’s here for a reason,” that’s a loaded statement that deserves consideration. I’m especially touched by the church ladies who “just come and sit,” and Lars’ brother who is confronted with his own responsibility for Lars’ emotional state of affairs. Absurd and heartwarming in equal measure, Lars will be a movie you never forget.
— Lindsey Dunn
Will and his teenage daughter, Tom, have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. The family is tested as both try to adjust to civilian life without losing what makes them feel alive. As Christians, we are taught to love the marginalized, and Will and Tom fall under that category, but what does it look like to love someone who may not want the help you offer? A film with no easy answers, LEAVE NO TRACE has themes of PTSD, trying to survive inside the system, and what happens to a family when you have different paths to forge.
— Lindsey Dunn
Years after an unspeakable tragedy tore their lives apart, two sets of parents agree to talk privately in an attempt to move forward. This minimalist film takes place inside an all-purpose room at a church. This room acts as a character and the main setting for the events that will take place. This is a story that doles out information in pieces, so truth be told, the less you know going in the better. There are themes explored of grief, communal lament, forgiveness, and the unrelenting love parents have for their children, even when they have been the cause of woe. This sometimes stressful and breathtaking film ends with the healing sounds of a choir practice that has the final say. This is an important and well acted film that presents topics like school shootings, school bullying, mental health, and personal responsibility from the perspective of parents.
— Lindsey Dunn
After moving to the countryside with their father to be near their ailing mother, two young sisters are befriended by a variety of mysterious woodland creatures. When life hits hard, you need to find something to hope for, something to believe in. Mei finds this in the presence of Totoro. Like “E.T.” and “The NeverEnding Story,” “My Neighbor Totoro” grabs at the elusive nature of childhood like strands that can’t be captured.
— Lindsey Dunn
Have you ever wondered how the Nazi leadership justified what they termed “The Final Solution” — the mass murder of the Jewish people during the Holocaust? Were these men soulless sociopaths or did they also possess some measure of humanity? And could something like the Nazi takeover of Germany ever happen in the United States? The historical drama NUREMBERG tackles these questions.
The film authentically (although not with perfect accuracy) portrays the preparations for the Nuremberg trials of the Nazi leadership and dramatizes scenes from the trials themselves. To be exact, U.S. Supreme
Court Justice Robert Jackson carefully pieces together a legal basis for the first-ever international tribunal to prosecute individuals for war crimes. But the trials are only a subplot. The main plot is the evolving relationship between U.S. Army psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Kelley, entrusted with providing the prosecution with a psychological evaluation of the accused Nazis, and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the highest-ranking Nazi prosecuted at Nuremberg.
2001: A SPACE ODDYSEY (1968), directed by Stanley Kubrick
Recommended for ages 16+A black monolith of unknown origin appears millions of years ago and then reappears in the future. Throughout history, it heralds evolution and violence in equal measure, sounding a silent warning bell that hints at the cost of progress. 2001: A SPACE ODDYSEY is a rich epic that presents to us how mankind responds to the unknown and conflict, how scientific advances can harm as they attempt to bring us closer to understanding, and how the vastness of our universe is comfortably unexplainable. There are opportunities to meditate on themes during the movie — to seek peace in our eternal God and to discern the limits of our humanness. This leisurely paced film may test the patience of viewers who prefer action-packed plots. The open-ended ending will frustrate viewers who like clear answers about meaning.
— Paul Alberti
ALL DIRT ROADS TASTE OF SALT (2023), directed by Raven Jackson
Recommended for ages 18+ due to its meditative paceIn this nonlinear, leisurely paced film with a strong sense of place, Mack grows up in rural Mississippi and experiences the full range of human experiences. The director takes an intimate approach in filming Mack and her loved ones, lingering on hugs and gentle touches. More of a poem than a narrative arc, this movie is a sensory exploration of Black family and community through one precious life. The attention the director gives Mack may bring to mind the love and care that God feels for each one of His creations.
— Lindsey Dunn
THE APOSTLE (1997), directed by Robert Duvall
Recommended for ages 18+After Pentecostal preacher Sonny discovers his wife is having an affair, he beats the man into a coma and flees the scene. He then settles in Louisiana and lays down roots, starting a new church and injecting life into the community. Robert Duvall wrote, directed, and starred in this movie about a deeply flawed preacher whose life takes unexpected turns. He prays and relies on the Holy Spirit to guide him, and sometimes he shines as a light to others—so why does he sometimes do unwise, even horrifying, things? The film gives no easy answers, but invites us to ponder: How does God work with and move among human beings, given that we’re all deeply flawed? Can we see God’s love and grace in the midst of our screwed-up lives?
— Liz Shively
BABETTE'S FEAST (1987), directed by Gabriel Axel
Recommended for ages 13+Two unmarried sisters and their strict father who live on the harsh coast of Denmark grow in their understanding of God’s love and grace when they take in a French refugee. Her lavish cooking enchants them with the reminder that life does not always need to be unrelenting and austere. This visually stunning and meditative movie is a spiritually nourishing treat for the soul. It challenges small views of God (especially the tendency to see him as a killjoy), and addresses the life-giving power of art in both faith and community. Also a great movie for foodies! The film is suitable for all ages but may not hold the attention of young children (who may also object to certain dishes they see cooked!). The film won an Oscar for best international feature that year and is in Danish with English subtitles.
— Maija Samei
THE CROODS (2013), directed by Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco
Recommended for all agesDespite its prehistoric setting, THE CROODS is a family feature with a surprisingly tender and relatable premise. Tissues are recommended. Teenage girl Eep (Emma Stone) longs for a life outside her small, prehistoric family’s routine. Their home is destroyed, she meets a teenage boy (Ryan Reynolds), and everyone deals with these things differently as they journey to find a new place to live. The animation is saturated and magical, clean and sparkling, sweeping us away to lush and bigger-than-life places. The story has humor and warmth and deals with family dynamics and how families (as an institution and individually) respond to change. But what gets me is the scene-stealing character arc of the dad, voiced by Nicolas Cage. Grug is the protector of the household and takes his role seriously. As his daughter dips a toe outside that circle of safety — taking the family with her — he begins to feel like a failure. Our hearts break and then cheer as his carefully constructed self-image cracks and reforms into a truer shape of what protecting his family looks like. It isn’t a far leap to call him a Jesus figure as he stands at the precipice of a chasm between a falling world and an Eden, with a very tough choice to make.
— Devon Flaherty
A FACE IN THE CROWD (1957), directed by Elia Kazan
Recommended for all agesLarry “Lonesome” Rhodes (Andy Griffith) is a womanizing drifter discovered by a local radio program host, Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal). Lonesome uses his down-home charisma to become an influential national media star, and Marcia Jeffries goes along for the ride. In that ride to the top, he uses others and is used by others. Made almost 70 years ago, this film eerily seems to predict aspects of our world today like influencer culture and the easy way fame can come and go. Lonesome is a tragic and morally complex character that we follow down a doomed path. We witness his manic charisma that masks a deep longing to be seen and accepted. Looking for love and finding only those who want to use him for their own purposes, we can only watch a trail of heartache that Lonesome absorbs and sends right back out to the universe. Watching may help viewers understand the deep longings of a heart and the many damaging ways we look for fulfillment. Tar Heels may be amazed at this nuanced and incredible performance of Andy Griffith, best known for his quaint and cozy depiction of small-town life.
— Mark Atkinson
THE HOUSE IS BLACK (1963), directed by Forugh Farrokhzad
Recommended for all agesLeprosy wreaks havoc on the body but can’t harm a soul with gratitude. This film focuses on people in Iran who live in a leper colony in the 1960s. Images don’t hide the damage that leprosy causes, but the camera refuses to allow viewers to reduce these humans to people we should pity. They run, play, fight, and live. Pity reduces a person to an object we can view from a distance and feel better because we said “poor little thing.” Instead the voice narrates Holy scriptures that name these souls creations that God has lovingly made, ones he pursues and cares for. The juxtaposition of poetry, scripture, and images of people living in the world that God made is a living testament to Imago Dei.
— Lindsey Dunn
ICE AGE (2002), directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge
Recommended for all agesAs the prehistoric ice age advances, countless creatures migrate south. Most travel with their packs, herds, or tribes, but the story focuses on three loners: Sid, the irritating sloth; Manny, the morose mammoth; and Diego, a saber-toothed tiger with a hidden agenda. These three unlikely companions come across a human baby who’s also been separated from his kind. He’s cute, and he’s helpless — but he’s part of a species that has brought death and devastation to many animals. A choice lies before the travelers each day: what to do with this baby? Abandon it, kill it, or try to return it?
As they face challenges together, the travelers come to understand one another better, which begins to change them from the inside out. But will their newfound insights and friendship win out over their self-centered survival instincts? As people whose survival instincts often conflict with Jesus’ call to love others as we love ourselves, we have plenty to ponder in this animated movie. All ages will enjoy the fast-paced adventures, the suspenseful plot, and the comic relief.
— Liz Shively
This whimsical and satirical comedy-drama depicts Johannes (Jojo), age 10, who begins the movie as an enthusiastic recruit of the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) near the end of WWII. His zealous imbibing of Aryan propaganda is interrupted when he discovers that his beautiful, enigmatic mother is harboring a young Jewish teenager in their home. He begins a transforming friendship that exposes Nazi ideology as a false narrative and eradicates his personal prejudice.
Jojo’s coming-of-age journey reveals essential truths. We witness how creative humor can expose powerful evil systems as they descend into absurd and destructive chaos. We observe that resistance to evil and daring to hope can be costly and dangerous. And Jojo’s own prejudice can’t stand up to a real relationship.
— Margaret Frothingham
— Liz Shively
JOJO RABBIT (2019), directed by Taika Waititi
Recommended for 16+ | Content warnings: war scenes, deathThis whimsical and satirical comedy-drama depicts Johannes (Jojo), age 10, who begins the movie as an enthusiastic recruit of the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) near the end of WWII. His zealous imbibing of Aryan propaganda is interrupted when he discovers that his beautiful, enigmatic mother is harboring a young Jewish teenager in their home. He begins a transforming friendship that exposes Nazi ideology as a false narrative and eradicates his personal prejudice.
Jojo’s coming-of-age journey reveals essential truths. We witness how creative humor can expose powerful evil systems as they descend into absurd and destructive chaos. We observe that resistance to evil and daring to hope can be costly and dangerous. And Jojo’s own prejudice can’t stand up to a real relationship.
— Margaret Frothingham
JUNEBUG (2005), directed by Phil Morrison
Recommended for adults for language and sexual contentSet and filmed around Winston-Salem, JUNEBUG tells the story of George, who brings his glamorous art-dealer girlfriend Madeleine from Chicago to North Carolina to cultivate a relationship with an eccentric folk artist and to visit his parents, his brother Johnny, and his sister-in-law Ashley (Amy Adams). It’s a poignant family story about the challenge of coming home, about middle-class life in North Carolina, and about how shame operates in families. Along the way are some moving scenes that reveal both beautiful and hard things about evangelical Christianity in the South. For anyone who loves North Carolina and who wants to know it better. NC connection: One of the family members works at Replacements, Ltd., a highway marker that almost every Tar Heel has driven by at least once.
— Warren Kinghorn
LA LA LAND (2016), directed by Damien Chazelle
Recommended for 13+The movie follows the relationship and careers of Sebastian, a jazz pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress. As their careers take off, they struggle with what they’re willing to sacrifice for love and their ambitions. I love musicals because, for me, music helps explain and give meaning to moments in a film, and I can then take that meaning into my own life. I especially like the opening scene, where drivers who are stuck in traffic suddenly get out of their cars and begin to sing and dance. I spend a lot of time “stuck” in school carline, and this scene helps me, in a small way, “redeem” carline. While I don’t get out of the car and sing and dance, I do sometimes do so in the car.
The film also explores an alternative ending and the idea of wondering how things might have been. I like thinking about the possibilities of what could have happened, while also accepting what actually did happen and finding joy and contentment in reality. LA LA LAND reminds us to appreciate each moment as a gift and opportunity. It also happens to have great music.
— Mary Taylor
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (2007), directed by Craig Gillespie
Recommended for 16+Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law’s home. The only problem is that she’s not real — she’s a sex doll
Lars ordered off of the internet. Sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he’s crazy, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet-natured boy that they’ve always loved. A surprising movie at every turn, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL shows a true portrait of community and how support sometimes means not addressing the elephant in the room for a time. There’s a whole lot of truth hidden at the center of this plot for those who seek it. When he doctor says, “Bianca’s here for a reason,” that’s a loaded statement that deserves consideration. I’m especially touched by the church ladies who “just come and sit,” and Lars’ brother who is confronted with his own responsibility for Lars’ emotional state of affairs. Absurd and heartwarming in equal measure, Lars will be a movie you never forget.
— Lindsey Dunn
LEAVE NO TRACE (2018), directed by Debra Granik
Recommended for 16+Will and his teenage daughter, Tom, have lived off the grid for years in the forests of Portland, Oregon. When their idyllic life is shattered, both are put into social services. The family is tested as both try to adjust to civilian life without losing what makes them feel alive. As Christians, we are taught to love the marginalized, and Will and Tom fall under that category, but what does it look like to love someone who may not want the help you offer? A film with no easy answers, LEAVE NO TRACE has themes of PTSD, trying to survive inside the system, and what happens to a family when you have different paths to forge.
— Lindsey Dunn
MASS (2021), directed by Fran Kranz
Recommended for 16+ | Content warning: school shootingYears after an unspeakable tragedy tore their lives apart, two sets of parents agree to talk privately in an attempt to move forward. This minimalist film takes place inside an all-purpose room at a church. This room acts as a character and the main setting for the events that will take place. This is a story that doles out information in pieces, so truth be told, the less you know going in the better. There are themes explored of grief, communal lament, forgiveness, and the unrelenting love parents have for their children, even when they have been the cause of woe. This sometimes stressful and breathtaking film ends with the healing sounds of a choir practice that has the final say. This is an important and well acted film that presents topics like school shootings, school bullying, mental health, and personal responsibility from the perspective of parents.
— Lindsey Dunn
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988), directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended for all agesAfter moving to the countryside with their father to be near their ailing mother, two young sisters are befriended by a variety of mysterious woodland creatures. When life hits hard, you need to find something to hope for, something to believe in. Mei finds this in the presence of Totoro. Like “E.T.” and “The NeverEnding Story,” “My Neighbor Totoro” grabs at the elusive nature of childhood like strands that can’t be captured.
Taking delight in childhood play, this film makes you want to go outside, take your shoes off, and indulge in the goodness of nature. There’s also something to be said for the comforting presence of Totoro, who could be seen as a Holy Spirit, bringing comfort and safety, as well as prompting gentle nudges when needed.
— Lindsey Dunn
A serial killer disguised as a preacher marries and murders the widow of an executed convict with whom he once shared a cell. He then terrorizes her two young children to force them to tell him the whereabouts of the $10,000 he knows their father hid before his imprisonment. Never has there been a more iconic villain than Harry Powell, whose tattooed knuckles have inspired filmmakers ever since. Through the children’s journey, they encounter different examples of what it means to honor God and love their fellow man. More often than not, the good sheep are the ones who don’t look as shiny on the outside.
— Lindsey Dunn
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955), directed by Charles Laughton
Recommended for 12+ for images of children being pursuedA serial killer disguised as a preacher marries and murders the widow of an executed convict with whom he once shared a cell. He then terrorizes her two young children to force them to tell him the whereabouts of the $10,000 he knows their father hid before his imprisonment. Never has there been a more iconic villain than Harry Powell, whose tattooed knuckles have inspired filmmakers ever since. Through the children’s journey, they encounter different examples of what it means to honor God and love their fellow man. More often than not, the good sheep are the ones who don’t look as shiny on the outside.
The dark themes of greed and obsession are leavened with notes of magic and God’s provision being on the side of right. There’s also a beauty to the childlike innocence of John and Pearl. John’s promise to his father to hide the money and protect Pearl weighs heavily on his soul and seems a greater burden than a child should have to carry. Equal in measure to Harry Powell’s presence is Rachel Cooper, the shotgun totin’, tough-as-nails protector who knows how to keep the wolves away.
— Lindsey Dunn
NUREMBERG (2025), directed by James Vanderbilt
Recommended for 13+Have you ever wondered how the Nazi leadership justified what they termed “The Final Solution” — the mass murder of the Jewish people during the Holocaust? Were these men soulless sociopaths or did they also possess some measure of humanity? And could something like the Nazi takeover of Germany ever happen in the United States? The historical drama NUREMBERG tackles these questions.
The film authentically (although not with perfect accuracy) portrays the preparations for the Nuremberg trials of the Nazi leadership and dramatizes scenes from the trials themselves. To be exact, U.S. Supreme
Court Justice Robert Jackson carefully pieces together a legal basis for the first-ever international tribunal to prosecute individuals for war crimes. But the trials are only a subplot. The main plot is the evolving relationship between U.S. Army psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Kelley, entrusted with providing the prosecution with a psychological evaluation of the accused Nazis, and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the highest-ranking Nazi prosecuted at Nuremberg.
Through numerous interviews, Dr. Kelley moves beyond his original task of psychological evaluation, to develop a bond, possibly even a friendship, with Göring, to the point that Kelley becomes an illicit conduit for correspondence between Göring and his wife and daughter. This film is an intense psychological study of great historical importance. But more significantly, although we know the outcome of the trials from our history classes, the question of Göring’s humanity, and whether the U.S. could ever succumb to a Nazi-like usurpation, are themes worth exploring in this outstanding film.
— Doug Marchuk
McMurphy ( Jack Nicholson) pretends to be insane so he will go to an asylum instead of prison, thinking it will be less restrictive. Instead he discovers that the caretaker Nurse Ratched rules the ward with an iron and cruel fist. Appalled by her behavior, he encourages the inmates to rebel, starting a battle of wills between him and Nurse Ratched. Although McMurphy is a true trickster, he also demonstrates courage and conviction in standing up for those that have difficulty standing up for themselves. We may not approve of his methods, but his acts of resistance may inspire us to not stay silent when we see others wronged.
— Mary Miller
Taeko is a 27-year-old woman working in an office in Tokyo while silently wishing for something more in life. For her holiday vacation, and to fulfill a childhood dream that was never realized, she travels deep into the countryside of Japan to work on a farm that still holds to the traditional, natural farming techniques. While on the overnight train ride into the country, she begins to have flashback memories of seemingly random events from her 10-year-old self. These dreamlike memories from her past continue to visit her while she is working on the farm, and through these flashbacks, cleverly integrated with the scenes from the present, we begin to understand how Taeko has become the kind, sensitive, and yet, unfulfilled person she is today. Delicate and detailed animation adds visual beauty to a nostalgic, wistful, and uplifting narrative. Themes of the fulfillment of life’s dreams and the way our experiences in youth shape our adult way of being make this film most appropriate for older teens and up.
— Doug Marchuk
When a book Paddington wants to buy is stolen, Paddington is framed for the crime and sent to jail. There he tries to continue believing in the many aphorisms instilled upon him by his beloved Aunt Lucy in spite of grouchy inmates and cruel assumptions. This movie bursts with pure unadulterated joy and laugh-out-loud humor. Paddington believes in simple principles of kindness and curiosity, never letting cynicism or hopelessness have the final say. While his rose-colored glasses may strike some as naive, there’s a beauty in his continuous childlike faith. The story can be appreciated as is or be seen as an immigration story. Paddington moves into the neighborhood and endures bias and assumptions about his behavior. His story reminds us of the loneliness and challenges of what it means to live as a stranger in a strange land.
— Lindsey Dunn
The movie is set in Glasgow, Scotland as a mysterious epidemic unfolds. People afflicted with the illness experience powerful, inexplicable emotional episodes — grief, panic, rage, euphoria — and then lose one of their senses. In the middle of this chaos, Susan, an epidemiologist, and Michael, a chef, meet and fall in love as the epidemic becomes more devastating. People don’t just collapse when they lose a sense - they adapt and find new ways to experience pleasure and connection. Instead of closing the restaurant once the senses of smell and taste are lost, after a period of despondency, they innovate and the restaurant is once again full of people enjoying a well-prepared meal and delighting in each other. I am inspired by the resiliency and creativity shown by the characters in the movie and the emphasis on human connection. Even after the ability to experience any sensory pleasure is gone, the characters cling to each other, so what remains is love.
— Helen Atkinson
TRAIN DREAMS follows Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker during an era of unprecedented change in the early 20th century. We follow his life as he labors, finds love, and considers his place in the world and among strangers and occasional friends. It’s meditative and lush, alive in blues, greens, and grays of the Pacific Northwest wilderness. The film’s pace asks us to reside in a life rather than just follow a plot as one man does the quiet work of being alive in one place for a long time. God has placed Robert in a small Idaho town and given him the chance to harness and shape sprawling, untouched forests by hacking down wood and laying steel without ever fully understanding what he’s building or what it will mean in the future. TRAIN DREAMS asks us to consider how every person matters, why every life is worth living, and the change we all create in the world, even if we don’t get to see it.
— Bryan Roth
Centered on a young boy, Ahmad, the movie traces the lengths that he’ll go through to return a friend’s notebook. It all takes place in less than 24 hours in one small Iranian community. What does it mean to be a friend? Doing the right thing can be hard, complicated, and confusing — but it’s “good work.” You will definitely want to add this film to your “have watched” list of films directed by Iranian directors, along with THE HOUSE IS BLACK, A SEPARATION, and PERSEPOLIS. Jonathan Rosenbaum in 1998 called Kiarostami the greatest living filmmaker and called his films “sustained meditations on singular landscapes and the way ordinary people live in them; obsessional quests that take on the contours of parables; concentrated inquiries that raise more questions than they answer; and comic as well as cosmic poems about dealing with personal and impersonal disaster.”
— Mark Atkinson
— Doug Marchuk
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975), directed by Milos Forman
Recommended for adults | Content warnings: suicide and death, electroshock therapy, fights, language, period-accurate ethnic and homophobic slursMcMurphy ( Jack Nicholson) pretends to be insane so he will go to an asylum instead of prison, thinking it will be less restrictive. Instead he discovers that the caretaker Nurse Ratched rules the ward with an iron and cruel fist. Appalled by her behavior, he encourages the inmates to rebel, starting a battle of wills between him and Nurse Ratched. Although McMurphy is a true trickster, he also demonstrates courage and conviction in standing up for those that have difficulty standing up for themselves. We may not approve of his methods, but his acts of resistance may inspire us to not stay silent when we see others wronged.
— Mary Miller
ONLY YESTERDAY (1991), directed by Isao Takahata
Recommended for 16+Taeko is a 27-year-old woman working in an office in Tokyo while silently wishing for something more in life. For her holiday vacation, and to fulfill a childhood dream that was never realized, she travels deep into the countryside of Japan to work on a farm that still holds to the traditional, natural farming techniques. While on the overnight train ride into the country, she begins to have flashback memories of seemingly random events from her 10-year-old self. These dreamlike memories from her past continue to visit her while she is working on the farm, and through these flashbacks, cleverly integrated with the scenes from the present, we begin to understand how Taeko has become the kind, sensitive, and yet, unfulfilled person she is today. Delicate and detailed animation adds visual beauty to a nostalgic, wistful, and uplifting narrative. Themes of the fulfillment of life’s dreams and the way our experiences in youth shape our adult way of being make this film most appropriate for older teens and up.
— Doug Marchuk
PADDINGTON 2 (2017), directed by Paul King
Recommended for all agesWhen a book Paddington wants to buy is stolen, Paddington is framed for the crime and sent to jail. There he tries to continue believing in the many aphorisms instilled upon him by his beloved Aunt Lucy in spite of grouchy inmates and cruel assumptions. This movie bursts with pure unadulterated joy and laugh-out-loud humor. Paddington believes in simple principles of kindness and curiosity, never letting cynicism or hopelessness have the final say. While his rose-colored glasses may strike some as naive, there’s a beauty in his continuous childlike faith. The story can be appreciated as is or be seen as an immigration story. Paddington moves into the neighborhood and endures bias and assumptions about his behavior. His story reminds us of the loneliness and challenges of what it means to live as a stranger in a strange land.
— Lindsey Dunn
PERFECT SENSE (2011), directed by David Mackenzie
Recommended for 16+ for mild sexual contentThe movie is set in Glasgow, Scotland as a mysterious epidemic unfolds. People afflicted with the illness experience powerful, inexplicable emotional episodes — grief, panic, rage, euphoria — and then lose one of their senses. In the middle of this chaos, Susan, an epidemiologist, and Michael, a chef, meet and fall in love as the epidemic becomes more devastating. People don’t just collapse when they lose a sense - they adapt and find new ways to experience pleasure and connection. Instead of closing the restaurant once the senses of smell and taste are lost, after a period of despondency, they innovate and the restaurant is once again full of people enjoying a well-prepared meal and delighting in each other. I am inspired by the resiliency and creativity shown by the characters in the movie and the emphasis on human connection. Even after the ability to experience any sensory pleasure is gone, the characters cling to each other, so what remains is love.
— Helen Atkinson
TRAIN DREAMS (2025), directed by Clint Bentley
Recommended for 16+TRAIN DREAMS follows Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker during an era of unprecedented change in the early 20th century. We follow his life as he labors, finds love, and considers his place in the world and among strangers and occasional friends. It’s meditative and lush, alive in blues, greens, and grays of the Pacific Northwest wilderness. The film’s pace asks us to reside in a life rather than just follow a plot as one man does the quiet work of being alive in one place for a long time. God has placed Robert in a small Idaho town and given him the chance to harness and shape sprawling, untouched forests by hacking down wood and laying steel without ever fully understanding what he’s building or what it will mean in the future. TRAIN DREAMS asks us to consider how every person matters, why every life is worth living, and the change we all create in the world, even if we don’t get to see it.
— Bryan Roth
WHERE IS THE FRIEND'S HOUSE? (1987), directed by Abbas Kiarostami
Recommended for all agesCentered on a young boy, Ahmad, the movie traces the lengths that he’ll go through to return a friend’s notebook. It all takes place in less than 24 hours in one small Iranian community. What does it mean to be a friend? Doing the right thing can be hard, complicated, and confusing — but it’s “good work.” You will definitely want to add this film to your “have watched” list of films directed by Iranian directors, along with THE HOUSE IS BLACK, A SEPARATION, and PERSEPOLIS. Jonathan Rosenbaum in 1998 called Kiarostami the greatest living filmmaker and called his films “sustained meditations on singular landscapes and the way ordinary people live in them; obsessional quests that take on the contours of parables; concentrated inquiries that raise more questions than they answer; and comic as well as cosmic poems about dealing with personal and impersonal disaster.”
— Mark Atkinson
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