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Search our database of more than 3,600 film reviews. We have been discovering spiritual meanings in movies for nearly four decades.
Film Awards

The Most Spiritually Literate Films of:
 
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Spirituality & Practice Awards: The Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2009

Latest Film Releases

 
Extraordinary Measures
HOPE
Extraordinary Measures - An inspiring drama about a man who possesses great perseverance, a spiritual character quality that includes patience, flexibility, and resilience in the face of challenges and constant change.
Read the Review.
Dear John
LOVE
Dear John - An engaging romantic love drama that morphs into a deeper and richer consideration of the truly transformative power of love.
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For My Father
LOVE
For My Father - Probes the greatest miracle of all: the difficult process of turning enemies into friends.
Read the Review.
Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight 1970
PEACE
Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 - An astonishing set of ballads performed by Leonard Cohen bringing peace and beauty to a rowdy crowd at the Isle of Wight in 1970.
Read the Review.
Ajami
SHADOW
Ajami - A poignant drama set in the tense multi-ethnic community in Jaffa, Israel, where dreams are regularly shattered by violence, poverty, and religious strife.
Read the Review.
The Girl on the Train
SHADOW
The Girl on the Train - A complex and well-acted French film about lying and other deceptions that bring dark clouds and bad weather into the lives of the characters.
Read the Review.
The Shock Doctrine
SHADOW
The Shock Doctrine - The backstory to the political and economic landscape of our times and the reasons why the rich are getting richer and the world is in such a mess.
Read the Review.

 

Recent Releases

 
The Messenger
COMPASSION
The Messenger - An emotionally affecting drama about the birth of compassion in an Iraq war hero assigned to work for the Casualty Notification Office.
Read the Review.
Avatar
CONNECTIONS
Avatar - A thematically rich, visually impressive, and imaginative sci-fi masterpiece that gives us a cosmology totally in sync with contemporary spirituality movements -- reverence for the Earth as a living being and Oneness consciousness that celebrates the interconnection of all.
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Up in the Air
CONNECTIONS
Up in the Air - One of the Best Films of 2009 with a bright, sassy, and relevant story about home, connections, unemployment, technology, and traveling light.
Read the Review.
Up in the Air
FORGIVENESS
Invictus - An astonishing and incredibly entertaining movie about the power of forgiveness, the importance of sports, the art of transformative leadership, and the reconciliation of the races.
Read the Review.
Before Tomorrow
LOVE
Before Tomorrow - A powerful Inuit film about the wisdom and skills of elders, the devastation wrought by contact with Westerners, the importance of community, and the magical connection between grandparents and grandchildren.
Read the Review.
Everybody's Fine
LOVE
Everybody's Fine - A richly developed dramatic comedy about parenting, family secrets, and the toxic fallout from high expectations and pressure to succeed advanced by so many well-meaning fathers.
Read the Review.
The Last Station
LOVE
The Last Station - A glimpse into the last year in Tolstoy's life and a provocative depiction of the different shades of love in the lives of some creative people.
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Mine
LOVE
Mine - An emotionally affecting documentary about the amazing animal rescue operation after Hurricane Katrina and the desperate quest of dog guardians who return to New Orleans to find their beloved pets.
Read the Review.
NoBody's Perfect
LOVE
NoBody's Perfect - An extraordinary German documentary about 12 adults with disabilities created by the toxic drug Thalidomide and how a special project lifts their spirits and gives them a fresh sense of community.
Read the Review.
A Single Man
LOVE
A Single Man - A world-weary college professor hobbled by grief and confused about his own futurediscovers the joy and pleasure of small things and magic moments.
Read the Review.
The Young Victoria
LOVE
The Young Victoria - An elegant costume drama about the early years of Victoria, the longest reigning Queen in English history.
Read the Review.
Youth in Revolt
LOVE
Youth in Revolt - An oddball adolescent goes on a wild quest to lose his virginity and to find true love with a seductive and mysterious young woman.
Read the Review.
Police, Adjective
MEANING
Police, Adjective - A slow-paced, philosophical, and thought-provoking Romanian film about a cop with a conscience.
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Brothers
SHADOW
Brothers - A riveting drama about a Marine captain who brings the violence of the war in Afghanistan home to his wife, two daughters, and brother in America.
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Sweetgrass
SHADOW
Sweetgrass - An interesting documentary about the last large sheep drive in Montana with cowboys who are not romanticized.
Read the Review.
The White Ribbon
SHADOW
The White Ribbon - A dark and foreboding film about the seeds of anger, violence, and hatred in the home that can lead to war and the rise of fascism.
Read the Review.
Crazy Heart
TRANSFORMATION
Crazy Heart - A rambling story of a down-and-out country singer (a great performance by Jeff Bridges) trying to put his life in turnaround.
Read the Review.
Wonderful World
TRANSFORMATION
Wonderful World - A touching spiritual drama about a cynical man and his auspicious relationship with a wise Senegalese brother and his beautiful sister.
Read the Review.
The End of Poverty
YEARNING
Gigante - A laid-back drama that gives us a close encounter with a lonely man whose desire animates his life in a new and adventurous direction.
Read the Review.
Fish Tank
YOU
Fish Tank - An intense film about the messy coming-of-age misadventures of an angry and unhappy English working-class teenager.
Read the Review.

 

Films Now Showing:
Spiritual perspectives on films now in theaters.
Spirituality & Film
How do you find spirituality in today's films? How can you make watching a film into a spiritual experience? Frederic and Mary Ann share their trade secrets.

Spirituality and Film
Befriending Films
Special Features
The 47th New York Film Festival: Reviews of this annual showcase of the best in international cinema.
Iranian Films Seen from a Spiritual Perspective: Links to our reviews of 29 films from or about Iran giving many windows into everyday life and the people's cares and concerns.
Global Spirit: See our reviews and study suggestions for this 10-part series from LinkTV; many of the programs can be viewed online.
New Directors/New Films Festival - 2009: See our reviews of this annual showcase of very interesting films
The 46th New York Film Festival - 2008: See our reviews of this annual showcase of some of the best films of the year.
Movies about Miracles: See quotes about miracles and our selection of 16 movies about miraculous events in the lives of ordinary people
New Directors/New Films Festival - 2008: See our recommendations for this annual festivals of works that break or recast the cinematic mold.
The Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2007: See our reviews of the 10 Best Features, 10 Best Foreign Lanuage Films, 10 Best Documentaries, and 10 More Best Features
The 45th New York Film Festival - 2007: See our reviews.
New Directors/New Films Festival - 2007: See our reviews.
Playing with God: Movies reveal how mere humans respond when God comes calling.
Meditating on The Passion of the Christ: links to our review, a meditation based on the stations of the cross and scenes from the movie, and reviews of 30 books about Jesus.
Joan of Arcadia: our review of the late and very missed series, the most spiritually literate shows ever on TV, plus executive producer Barbara Hall's Ten Commandments of Joan of Arcadia
The Decalogue: Polish film director Krzysztof Kieslowski's masterpiece: ten one-hour films about the Ten Commandments — now on video/DVD.
Interviews
Philip Groning:
Director of Into Great Silence
Tim McCanlies:
Director of Secondhand Lions
Bahman Ghobadi:
Director of the Iranian film Turtles Can Fly
Film Galleries
Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion: images from the documentary about the plight of the Tibetan people
Into Great Silence: the documentary about the Cathusian monks of Grand Chartreuse