S&P Awards

The Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2011
A Better Life By Chris Weitz A touching and authentic immigrant tale that touches the heart and is one of the most spiritually literate films of 2011. Feature
A Bird of the Air By Margaret Whitton Story of a talkative parrot who proves to be a miracle worker bringing two lonely souls together for a quest that changes them both. Feature
A Separation By Asghar Farhadi A searing Iranian film about divisiveness as a toxin in relationships. Foreign
Beginners By Mike Mills An unusually gratifying film about a playful 75-year-old man's zest for life and its effect on his serious and lonely 38-year-old son. Feature
Buck By Cindy Meehl An extraordinary documentary about a horse-whisperer whose spiritual messages and healing techniques are good medicine for all. Documentary
David By Joel Fendelman A spiritual masterwork about the friendship between a Muslim and a Jewish boy. Feature
Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) By Kiran Rao An enthralling movie set in Bombay about the dreams and desires of four very different people. Foreign
Dolphin Tale By Charles Martin Smith A heart-affecting drama about the loving relationship between a lonely boy and a badly injured dolphin and the community that supports them. Feature
Happy Feet Two By George Miller A lively animated film with its quirky characters and the heroism of animals banding together in face of an eco-disaster that threatens them all. Animated
Higher Ground By Vera Farmiga A spiritual drama that challenges viewers to map their own journey of faith, asking questions, and seeking a closer connection with God. Feature
Hugo By Martin Scorsese A free-flowing and enchanting celebration of movie-making, finding the way home, and the kind of caring that can transform the lives of others. Feature
In a Better World By Susanne Bier A poignant drama about the universal appeal of violence in our psyches and in cultures around the globe. Foreign
In Time By Andrew Niccol A thought-provoking sci-fi thriller set in the future that taps into some of the most troubling inequities and problems of our era, the lack of time. Feature
Jane's Journey By Lorenz Knauer An engrossing portrait of the public and private lives of Jane Goodall; one of the Best Documentaries of 2011. Documentary
Journey from Zanskar By Frederick Marx An extraordinary documentary about two Tibetan Buddhist monks who want to enrich the lives of 17 impoverished children from their region. Documentary
Le Havre By Aki Kaurismaki A magical Finnish film about the miracles that a warm heart can work in a world of hatred and divisiveness. Foreign
Le Quattro Volte By Michelangelo Frammartino A quiet, meditative, and spiritual Italian film about the transmigration of the soul. Foreign
Life, Above All By Oliver Schmitz The engrossing story of the heroism and compassion of a 12-year-old South African who demonstrates selfless love in caring for her very ill mother. Foreign
Margin Call By J. C. Chandor Drama about a catastrophe in 2008 as high-ranking members of a prosperous financial firm deal with its imminent collapse. Feature
Melancholia By Lars von Trier A mind-blowing end-of-the world drama that challenges us to take stock of our beliefs, feelings, and fears about death. Feature
Of Gods and Men By Xavier Beauvois A deeply human and spiritually enlightening French film about the mission of seven Catholic monks serving a poor Muslim community in Algeria. Foreign
Oranges and Sunshine By Jim Loach The extraordinary true story of a social worker who exposed the notorious forced deportation of children from England to Australia. Feature
Passione: A Musical Adventure By John Turturro A sensuous tribute to the city of Naples and the emotional undertow of its diverse musical traditions. Documentary
Project Nim By James Marsh An astonishing documentary about a chimp raised as a human and the calamitous consequences. Documentary
Puss in Boots By Chris Miller A razzle-dazzle animated feature about an outlaw cat who dances flamenco and is a survivor able to handle all challenges before him. Animated
Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? By Taggart Siegel An inspiring documentary about what beekeepers are doing to save the bees in jeopardy. Documentary
Queen to Play By Caroline Bottaro An elegant and inspiring French drama about a chambermaid who follows her passion for chess and finds her life transformed. Foreign
Rango By Gore Verbinski A wonderful and immensely creative animated film about a loser who arises to the challenges faced in a town without water. Feature
Raw Faith By Peter Wiedensmith A vibrant and timely documentary about a progressive Unitarian Universalist minister and the challenges she faces in her public and private lives. Documentary
The Descendants By Alexander Payne A masterful and emotionally rich movie about the grief of parting and the agony of separation. Feature
The Edge of Dreaming By Amy Hardie A bold, creative, engrossing, and spiritual documentary about a rational woman's close encounter with death that changes her life and perspective. Documentary
The Help By Tate Taylor A tribute to African-American maids in the South during 1963 and their courage in telling their stories as a form of grace and courage under pressure. Feature
The Interrupters By Steve James A riveting documentary about three warriors for peace whose heroism has made a difference in the lives of people in inner city Chicago. Documentary
The Last Lions By Beverly Joubert, Dereck Joubert An extraordinary documentary about a wild lioness who is doing all she can to nurture and defend her cubs as they face one challenge after another to survive. Documentary
The Music Never Stopped By Jim Kolhberg Touching story about the emotional uplift of music, the tenderizing of a family member's heart, and a father-son reconciliation. Feature
The Names of Love By Michel Leclerc A clever and creative French comedy about an unlikely couple trying against all odds to make a life together. Foreign
The Tree By Julie Bertuccelli A beautiful and beguiling Australian film about love, loss, mystery, and the resources needed to hold together a grieving family. Feature
The Tree of Life By Terrence Malick A bold film about a journey that stirs the soul as it sets the story of the creation of the universe alongside the intimate story of one family in the 1950s. Feature
The Whistleblower By Larysa Kondracki A compelling true story about the transformation of a female Nebraska cop into a heroic whistleblower in Bosnia in 1999. Feature
Turtle: The Incredible Journey By Nick Stringer An engrossing documentary about the heroic 25-year pilgrimage of a loggerhead turtle. Documentary
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives By Apichatpong Weerasethakul A mesmerizing Thai film about death, reincarnation, and the abundant mysteries of the human adventure. Foreign
War Horse By Steven Spielberg A spellbinding drama about a heroic horse, the young man who loves him and the hell endured on the battlefields of World War I. Feature
We Bought a Zoo By Cameron Crowe An emotionally literate film about a grieving family trying to jump-start their lives again by running a small zoo for animals. Feature
Win Win By Tom McCarthy An emotionally satisfying drama about sports, family, and money problems in which everyone gets a second chance. Feature
Winnie the Pooh By Don Hall, Stephen Anderson A down-to-earth and whimsical screen interpretation of three A. A. Milne inspired tales about fear, friendship, and the importance of play. Animated
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