Just what it says in the header, but here’s why: I’m part of a group of parents volunteering for our kids’ Confirmation prep, which consists of a number of different evening appointments to focus on particular themes, and one whole weekend. We got together to plan the weekend tonight, and one proposed idea was to watch a suitable movie all together, which has the potential to be great fun or a hideous, bone-numbingly boring disaster.
Nobody could think of anything quite right, so it’s still an open question. Ideally, the movie would have something to do with the Holy Spirit, and be appropriate for 15-16-year-old kids. I thought of a number of different films, like ‘Monty Python and the Life of Brian,’ ‘Bruce Almighty,’ and Oh, God!,’ but none of those are quite right; they’d be great if our theme were Jesus or God, but it isn’t, so no use crying over spilled holy water.
I would dearly love to influence the decision, because if we can’t come up with an entertaining movie, we’re no doubt going to get stuck watching some godawful pious mess, and I’m already giving up a weekend of my life that I’ll never be getting back here.
I don’t think there are many movies that deal directly with the HS, but more that they reflect the impact it can have on a person, believer and non-believer alike. This is, of course, a little vague and subjective, but still might be a good springboard into discussion of what the HS does.
That said, the two movies I can think of that might work are both about nuns who, when confronted with evil, show a spirit of compassion and forgiveness, which in turns, brings about a sort-of redemption to a “sinner”–not necessarily as clear-cut as a full on conversion, but a change in lifestyle and perspective, even if in a small but significant way. In both cases, one might argue that the HS is at work in their lives.
One is Dead Man Walking and the other is Bad Lieutenant. Of course, the problem with the latter is that it has exceedingly graphic content that may not be suitable for a group that age range. While the former is also rated R, IIRC, it is mostly because of language and a few brief bursts of violence (in flashback). Don’t know if you’ve seen either of those, but those occur to me offhand.
If you want something less heavy and more lighthearted, it’s tough to think of movies about “redemption” that aren’t based largely in a secular mindview. The closest thing I can think of is Groundhog Day, which is also about a spiritual renewal and has some discussions about God, life & death, and one’s purpose in the world.
When better than to get into some “godawful pious mess” than a Confirmation prep class? When else will they get it?
I had a hard time thinking of movies but now that **Dead Man Walking **was brought up, that is a good one. It could be seen as the Spirit working in both people, and also as an excellent example of the Spirit inspiring action and works of mercy. And of how the Spirit leads us in the tough decisions of society, morals, and ethics outside of the church community. Excellent choice!
I would heartily recommend Black Robe, set in 17th century Canada and following the journey of a Jesuit priest upriver to join a mission among the Huron .
Among other things it deals with his own humanity versus his faith, the awareness that the indigenous people he meets and gets to know are not just pagans but hold faiths and world views as complex as his own.
Only minor note is that the actor playing the Jesuit looks a lot like Michael Palin, so you might mistakenly expect the Spanish Inquisition.
Forrest Gump- the feather floating on the wind- John 3:8- The wind blows where it will, you hear it but you do not know from where it comes or where it goes- so are those who are born of the Spirit.
The TNT production MOSES with Ben Kingsley’s as God’s Presence comes as a mighty wind & Moses with all the people of Israel ecstatically proclaiming the Ten Commandments.
The NBC miniseries A.D. has a Day of Pentecost scene about 30 min (?) in.
That’s a tough one. Plenty of movies featuring the Father, plenty of movies featuring the Son, but the Holy Spirit doesn’t play well as a movie-character. Does He even get a single line in the Bible? Talking doves are just silly (it would be different if the traditional representation were a raven or something).
Chiming in here: The HS doesn’t appear in a lot of films. It/He wouldn’t; The HS was left behind to provide comfort after Jesus departed.
That being said, I caught a film two weeks ago about a high school football team called “Facing the Giants”. I think that would be appropriate for your group.
Now as for that comment, “giving up a weekend I can’t get back”…really? I hope your kids don’t feel the same way when you’re old. They may not acknowledge it now that you gave up a weekend for them, but they will remember it later.
I suggest Wide Awake; it’s an early film from M. Night Shyamalan (done right before The Sixth Sense), but has none of his “twist -ending” baggage. It’s a small film about a young boy’s faith challenges following the death of his grandfather, and his search for the presence of God.
It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, but my memory is of a sweet, somewhat sappy story bolstered by very good performances from Robert Loggia (as the grandfather) and Dana Delany and Denis Leary (as the parents).
In art, the Holy Spirit is represented most often as a dove, and is most commonly depicted at the Baptism of Christ, where the Spirit Of God Descends Like a Dove. If I were going to look for the Holy Spirit in cinema, I’d look at Bpatism of Christ scenes.
Here’s one, from the TV-movie (by Zeffereli) Jesus of Nazareth:
Not a realy big scene, but at least it has the dove. You won’t find one in Godspell, for instance.
Yeah, I had just come back from the planning meeting when I wrote the OP and I was feeling a bit cranky. I’m greatly looking forward to the parts of the weekend that involved being with the kids; the group I’m heading (along with another mother) is just terrific. I really enjoy everything we’re doing with them and in general the whole experience has been a lot of fun.
The snark came from the idea of spending a whole weekend of my life with the other adults. I don’t know them very well, but they have shown a tendency to be negative and derisive towards others that I just can’t get behind. One mother in particular is domineering and loves the sound of her own voice and has something critical to say every time she opens her mouth.
Meh, that’s my problem – hey, you could say that that’s my cross to bear. I’m just hoping to find a good film that the kids can be enthusiastic instead of polite about that will give them something to think about afterwards.
I really appreciate all these suggestions! Thanks, all!
Slightly OT, I always think of the Holy Spirit as ‘She.’
Robert Duvall’s The Apostle could be argued to be about the Holy Spirit. He plays a disgraced and not completely sane evangelist on-the-run for manslaughter and he pretty much knows that he’ll eventually be brought to justice, but he wants to achieve something worthwhile to redeem some of his selfish and off-the-track acts in whatever time he has left as a free man.
When I say that it deals with the Holy Spirit I don’t mean in the supernatural way, but there are scenes where he “gives himself over” to the spirit, and seems to be channeling some sort of extra force. I attribute it masterful instinctive manipulator of people (not always in a bad way- the character is deeply flawed but he’s not what you’d call evil), but you see others being moved by what some would call “the spirit”.
There was an episode of INSIGHT called 'Jesus B.C." which starred William Windom as The Father, Tim Matheson as Jesus, and Paula Kelley as Grace (the Holy Spirit) taking reports from James Cromwell as a proper butler angel on the unfolding of human history while They planned our redemption. Alas, YouTube no longer has the ep up due to copyright infringement complaints.
The Apostle was my thought as well, but it’s about as far from Catholic (assuming that’s what this Confirmation prep is for) as you can get and still be Christian (IMO).
And a somewhat mediocre movie (again, IMO).
Certainly has it’s fair share of “Holy Ghost Power” and then some.
The Apostle was also my first thought along with another Robert Duval movie, Tender Mercies. I had forgotten how much I really like that movie, in every way.
