S&P Awards

The Most Spiritually Literate Films of ...
A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps By Alana DeJoseph An enlightening and inspiring 60-year history of the Peace Corps. Documentary
All In: The Fight for Democracy By Liz Garbus, Lisa Cortes Informative documentary on the history of voting rights and the threats to it in our time. Documentary
And Then We Danced (Da cven vicekvet) By Levan Akin A moving exploration of coming out queer in a tradition-drenched society. International
Another Round By Thomas Vinterberg A drunken tumble through midlife crises, which calls for dissection in community conversation. Feature
Beanpole By Kantemir Balagov A bleak but powerful exploration of post-war trauma. International
Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You By Thom Zimny A rousing and rockin' documentary in which Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band record a new album and the Boss offers spiritual commentary on the songs. Documentary
Buoyancy By Rodd Rathjen A harsh tale of contemporary slavery and human resiliency. Feature
Burden By Andrew Heckler True story about a black Christian minister who practices love, forgiveness, and reconciliation by befriending a Ku Klux Klan member. Feature
City Hall By Frederick Wiseman A detailed documentary showing the many things a city government does for its citizens. Documentary
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution By Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht An uplifting story of disability rights advocates and their ongoing fight for justice. Documentary
Da 5 Bloods By Spike Lee A troubling portrait of the Vietnam war and its toxic impact on so many black soldiers who suffered there. Feature
David Byrne's American Utopia By Spike Lee An inspiring musical trip through a creative new vision for building beloved community. Documentary
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy By Elizabeth Carroll A look at the lively life of the world's leading expert on Mexican food. Documentary
Driveways By Andrew Ahn A cinematic masterwork on dealing with transitions. Feature
Farewell Amor By Ekwa Msangi A touching family drama about the sacred powers of dance. Feature
First Cow By Kelly Reichardt A gentle portrait of budding friendship in an alienating landscape. Feature
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind By Martha Kehoe, Joan Tosoni A music-packed documentary revealing all the reasons to love the songs of the legendary Canadian musician. Documentary
Gunda By Victor Kossakovsky A mesmerizing study of animal sentience. Documentary
H is for Happiness By John Sheedy A totally entertaining movie about a young teen who models resilience, kindness, and a vibrantly happy outlook. Feature
Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something By Rick Korn A portrait of the singer/songwriter whose story songs and humanitarian activism prove to be equally inspiring. Documentary
Hearts and Bones By Ben Lawrence A rich and immersive drama about two men dealing with the baggage of their pasts as they try to keep their friendship and marriages together. Feature
House of Hummingbird By Bora Kim A coming-of-age story filled with small moments of spiritual wisdom, including a practice for times of sadness. Feature
I Am Greta By Nathan Grossman An enlightening documentary about a passionate young prophet for eco-justice. Documentary
Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President By Mary Wharton A rollicking documentary about the former president's love of music and hospitality to musicians. Documentary
John Lewis: Good Trouble By Dawn Porter An inspiring documentary about a moral leader who modeled an ethic of love, nonviolence, and hope. Documentary
La Llorona By Jayro Bustamante A ghost story with an urgent political message. International
Little America By Various Directors A joyous collection of portraits of immigrant experiences inspired by true stories. Television
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom By George C. Wolfe A fierce and poetic study of music, history, and racism. Feature
Minari By Lee Isaac Chung A touching slice-of-life story of a Korean-American family trying to create their own version of the American Dream. International
My Octopus Teacher By Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed A documentary illustrating the spiritual practice of reverence by a diver observing an octopus for a year. Documentary
Never Rarely Sometimes Always By Eliza Hittman A deeply touching film that illustrates the healing power of empathy. Feature
News of the World By Paul Greengrass Western about the healing power of storytelling and kindness as a spiritual practice. Feature
Nomadland By Chloe Zhao The remarkable odyssey of a feisty woman who finds community and her true self in her home on the road. Feature
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life By Ric Burns A fascinating overview of the life and work of a Renaissance Man. Feature
One Night in Miami By Regina King A fictional recreation of a gathering of four Black leaders and their sometimes heated conversation about their goals and aspirations. Feature
Out Stealing Horses (Ut og Stjæle Hester) By Hans Petter Moland An enigmatic meditation on memory. International
Palm Springs By Max Barbakow A romantic comedy about two people forced to really live in the present moment. Feature
Relic By Natalie Erika James An imaginative and moving depiction of dementia’s toll on a family. Feature
Roadkill By Michael Keillor A political thriller that raises questions about our tolerance for corruption. Television
Small Axe: A Collection of Five Films By Steve McQueen A powerful anthology of stories about the challenges faced by and the triumphs scored by the West Indian community in London in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Television
Sorry We Missed You By Ken Loach Story of an English family on the brink of financial collapse that will catalyze your empathy for poor and middle-class families. Feature
Soul By Pete Docter, Kemp Powers An animated masterpiece about a soul's adventure that will get you thinking and talking about life and the afterlife, your passions and purpose, and the spark that sets it all going. Animated
Sound of Metal By Darius Marder A quietly powerful portrait of disability, addiction, and recovery. Feature
The Assistant By Kitty Green A sobering study of power, complicity, and the enduring violence of silence. Feature
The Father By Florian Zeller A drama with a mix of sunshine and shadows about a man facing dementia and his daughter struggling to provide him the care he refuses. Feature
The Good Lord Bird By Ethan Hawke A rousing, ribald, and immensely engaging miniseries on the crusade of abolitionist John Brown to free America's slaves. Feature
The Mole Agent By Maite Alberdi Docu-drama about a kind man skilled in listening who goes undercover in a nursing home. Feature
The Queen's Gambit By Scott Frank A gripping miniseries revolving around a young woman's success in the previously all-male world of chess tournaments due to her determination, persistent study, and a little help from her friends. Television
The Social Dilemma By Jeff Orlowski Explanations and predictions from some of the creators of social media about the consequences of our growing dependence upon digital communications. Documentary
The Trial of the Chicago 7 By Aaron Sorkin Courtroom drama about the demonization of dissent which continues to this day. Feature
The Truffle Hunters By Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw An absolutely charming cinematic romp with elders and their dogs hunting for a rare delicacy. Documentary
The Truth By Hirokazu Kore-eda A subtle exploration of art, artificiality, and complicated interpersonal dynamics. International
Time By Garrett Bradley An intimate account of mass incarceration’s toll on one family and a celebration of the power of love. Documentary
Welcome to Chechnya By David France A gripping documentary about LGBTQ genocide and a brave band of human rights activists trying to rescue those affected. Documentary
What the Constitution Means to Me By Marielle Heller Film of a live Broadway production of a play about how the personal becomes political. Documentary
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