We love movies that challenge us… that move and inspire us. We most especially love the ones that show us a new way to see, that break our heart for the world or remind us of who we want to be in it.

And we love a good movie recommendation (so send us yours!) but probably like you, we’ve lost count of the times someone has recommended a “great” movie to us, only to come out of the theater saying “Really? What were they thinking?

Be that as it may, here is a short list of films that have, in some way, spoken to us. We’ve watched most of these more than once. They represent different genres, time periods and movie ratings. So, watch at your own discretion.

You’ll notice these are not all “Christian” films. We believe God cares about everything, and everyone, and from that, everything is, on some level, spiritual and has the potential to teach and inspire us. While not everything is beneficial, there are lessons, in compassion or what to avoid, even from the worst parts of human nature.

  • Cry, the Beloved Country – Two very different South African fathers embark on similar, but separate journeys to discover the fate of their estranged sons. In an unthinkable tragedy, their worlds collide. Family, the power of forgiveness and the stark realities of apartheid are some of the themes. Powerful.

 

  • Silence– Two 17th-century Portuguese missionaries agree to a perilous journey to Japan to find their missing spiritual mentor. While there, the two men minister to the Christian villagers who worship in secret. If caught by feudal lords they must renounce their faith or face a prolonged and agonizing death. What would you do in similar circumstances? What if your evangelism was killing your converts? Christianity, ancient Japan, evangelism and ultimate sacrifice are some of the themes.  Provoking.

 

  • Many Beautiful Things — A new and surprising documentary about the untold story of one of the world’s greatest women artists and why her name was nearly lost to history. Lilias Trotter, a daring young woman defied all norms by winning the favor of England’s top art critic. With her legacy on the line, Lilias makes a stunning decision that bids us to question the limits of sacrifice. Could you abandon a dream to pursue your true calling? Art, passion and the cost of following Christ are some of the themes. (Music by Sleeping at Last.)  Beautiful art. Inspiring story.

 

  • Tender Mercies -We love all things Robert Duvall who plays a down-on-his-luck country singer with nowhere to go when he wakes up in a motel, short on cash. So he takes a job from the widow who runs the place and over time they form an attachment. When the opportunity for a career comeback surfaces, the singer must choose between his new life and the one he let slip away.  Set in the rural southwest, choices, redemption, and love are some of the themes.  Soulfully Satisfying.

 

  • The Treasure of Sierra Madre– An excellent old, black and white adventure film starring Humphrey Bogart about greed, gold and the trouble that comes from the overwhelming desire for quick, easy money. Friends become enemies, and lives are lost over the prospect of wealth. Trust and the path greed takes people on are some of the themes. Classic. Soul searching.

 

  • Invictus A true story based, again, in our beloved South Africa. After his 27-year imprisonment, President Nelson Mandela is faced with the task of unifying a country divided by race. Just months after the end of Apartheid, divisions still exist between the country’s blacks and whites, something Mandela notices during an international rugby match. This is the story of a bold move Mandela makes to help change the tide of hatred in his country.  Racism, rugby, and the power of unification are some of the themes.  Hope-filled.

 

  • Amadeus– Resenting Wolfgang Mozart for both his hedonistic lifestyle and his undeniable talent, another highly religious musician becomes gradually consumed by jealousy. The man is obsessed with Mozart’s downfall, leading to a devious scheme that has dire consequences for both men. Mozart, Classical music and the destructive lengths some will go in the grip of envy are some of the themes.  Clever storytelling, powerful soul check.

 

  • The Shack– A controversial movie from the book by Paul Young. After suffering a family tragedy, the father spirals into a deep depression that causes him to question his beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack in the Oregon wilderness. There he meets a host of interesting characters that transform his understanding of his tragedy and change his life. Tragedy, grief, the Trinity, and the nature of God are some of the themes.  May offend some, bring freedom to others.

 

  • Luther– (2003) True story. Joseph Fiennes plays Martin Luther a 16th-century idealistic German monk who becomes disgusted by the materialism in the church and begins a study and dialogue that lead to the Protestant Reformation. With radical theological change also comes widespread destruction. The life of Martin Luther, the sometimes ungodly power of religious institutions, the Reformation and its aftermath are some of the themes.  Interesting. Cautionary.

 

  • Remember the Titans – True story. In 1971 high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria, Virginia. But when the local school board is forced to integrate an all-black school with an all-white school, the very foundation of football’s great tradition was put to the test when a black coach (Denzel Washington) is hired to lead the team. Racism, family, football, and reconciliation are some of the themes.  Inspiring. Hope-filled.

 

  • Big Fish– A unique & imaginative father/son story where the father becomes ill and his son travels to be with him. Their relationship is strained because of the exaggerated stories the father has always told about his life and the son doesn’t believe are true. Even on his deathbed there are fantastical stories that the son (a journalist) starts to investigate to prove once and for all his father has been lying —only in the end does the son discovers something else. Family, fathers and sons, storytelling are some of the themes.  The beauty of compassionate understanding.

 

  • Seven Years in Tibet– Stunning cinematography, this is the true story of the transformation of a self-centered, driven and independent Austrian mountaineer (played by Brad Pitt) and his experiences in Tibet between 1944 and 1951 during World War II and invasion of Tibet in 1950. Mountain climbing, war, the young Dali Lama, and personal transformation are some of the themes.  Gripping. Hopeful.

 

  • Gandhi– You’ll need extra popcorn for this one. Major events in the life of Mohandas Gandhi, the beloved Indian leader who stood against British rule over his country. Dedicated to nonviolent resistance, Gandhi is initially dismissed by English officials, but eventually, he and his cause become internationally renowned, and his gatherings of passive protest move India towards independence. Spiritual unity, non-violence, independence, determination and personal sacrifice for the good of all are some of the themes. Inspiring and instructive.

 

  • Sons of Liberty(series) Based on true stories, some of which we’d never heard, about the inception of the unique group of men who came together for very different reasons to fight for the freedom of the American colonies and how they shaped the future of the United States.  Freedom, revolution, and sacrifice for the greater good are some of the themes. Fascinating & inspiring- even if you’re not a history buff.

 

  • The Heart of Man– A creative retelling of the parable of the prodigal son, interwoven with true testimonials of various men and women’s personal and sexual brokenness. Narrative storytelling and documentary filmmaking combine to reveal the compassionate heart of God that illuminates an age-old truth: shame is not a barrier to God’s love, but a bridge to absolute transformation, victory, freedom, and hope. Redemption, overcoming shame, transformation, the love and grace of God, and sexual brokenness are some of the themes. Evocative & hope-filled.

Just a few more 🙂 Dances with Wolves, Schindler’s List, Glory, Heidi, The Blindside, Les Miserables, Pride and Prejudice, Water, Loving Vincent, John Adams (series), Gettysburg, Lincoln, A.D., Chocolat, The Railway Man.

What movies have inspired or moved you? Are there any you watch over and over? Share them us in the comment section.  Happy viewing. 

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Caron Loveless
Caron Loveless is a bestselling author, artist and teacher. She is a compassionate, intuitive advisor, a certified Enneagram specialist and for over 25 years she used her strategic, leadership, and artistic gifts to serve on the executive staff at Discovery Church, Orlando, FL. She is a conference speaker and retreat leader with a passion to see women, couples and leaders identify the hidden, internal issues that hinder them from experiencing the maximum joy, grace and fulfillment God has available for them. Caron and her husband David are parents of three sons and are the grandparents of their seven delightfully energized children.