Christianity and Film

Directed by Fred Zinnemann.
120 minutes; released 1966.
Saint Thomas More, formerly Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII, is put on trial for defying the king's will. Based on the play by Robert Bolt. Starring Paul Scofield.

Directed by Andrey Tarkovskiy.
205 minutes; released 1966.
A 15th-century monk perseveres in painting icons despite the civil disruptions and cruel turmoil of his times. In Russian with English subtitles.

Directed by Gabriel Axel.
103 minutes; released 1987.
The daughters of a devout Danish clergyman struggle between piety and passion when their father dies and a French gourmet cook comes to town. In English, French, Danish, or Spanish.

Directed by William Wyler.
212 minutes; released 1959.
A Jewish prince in first-century A.D. Palestine is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend; he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. Based on the novel by Lew Wallace. Starring Charlton Heston.

Directed by Roberto Rossellini.
87 minutes; released 1950.
In a series of simple and joyous vignettes, Rossellini and co-writer Federico Fellini lovingly convey the universal teachings of humility, faith, and sacrifice of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Directed by Liliana Cavani.
115 minutes; released 1989.
The story of Saint Francis of Assisi. Starring Mickey Rourke.

Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.
90 minutes; released 1964.
Pasolini's movie interpretation of the life of Christ.

Directed by Ferdinand Zecca.
115 minutes; released 1907.
An early silent film version of the life of Christ.

Directed by Roland Joffé.
125 minutes; released 1986.
Jesuit missionaries in the jungles of late eighteenth century Brazil try to protect the indigenous people from slave-traders. Starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons.

Directed by Maurice Cloche.
114 minutes; released 1947.
A feature-length movie about the life of Saint Vincent de Paul, the 17th century French priest who devoted himself to the poor, sick and abandoned.

Directed by Luis Buñuel.
92 minutes; released 1959.
A simple priest tries to live a pure and honest life according to the Christian virtues, but is shown distrust and hatred by those around him. In Spanish with optional English subtitles.

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer.
125 minutes; released 1955.
A father and his three sons have different religious experiences. Audio-track in Danish with English subtitles (optional on DVD). Based on the play by Kaj Munk.

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer.
82 minutes; released 1928.
Dreyer's black and white silent film about the trial and execution of St. Joan of Arc. French intertitles and optional English subtitles.

Directed by Andrei Tarkovskij.
145 minutes; released 1986.
Tarkovskij's dark drama of redemption and nuclear holocaust. In Swedish with English subtitles.