Venerdì Santo - Bronte
For two hundred years, the Shakers have been America's most successful utopian society. While seeking harmony, order and perfection in every aspect of their lives, they built minimalistic furniture and buildings that influenced modern design. The Shakers wrote songs of exquisite beauty and danced to the point of ecstasy during their religious meetings. Inspired by this music and dance, choreographer Tero Saarinen created Borrowed Light, a dance piece about communal life and individual sacrifice. Shot in Finland and the United States, featuring interviews and excerpts from Borrowed Light, this documentary explore the cultural legacy of this religious group devoted to creating heaven on earth.
Examines the implications of Christian Nationalism, how it distorts not only our constitutional republic, but Christianity itself, and asks the question: What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism?
Macht und Armut: Die Mönche von Cluny
The oldest Quebecois Benedictine convent open its gates to a documentary filmmaker for the first time. Observed up close, life behind its walls is busier than one would expect. About twenty cloistered nuns, most of them over 70, share their daily life with diligence and humor. A contemplative portrait of a community of sisterhood and solidarity emerges, punctuated by prayer, work and games evenings.
Peels back centuries of legend and myth to tell the story of Saint Patrick through historical reenactments, expert interviews and Patrick’s own writings, tracing his journey from man to saint. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i95AQhvtzsA
Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi is a play retelling the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in the 1950s in Corpus Christi, Texas. This documentary follows the troupe, playwright, and audience around the world on a five-year journey of Terrence McNally’s passion play, where voices of protest and support collide on one of the central issues facing the LGBT community: religion.
Director Hannah Livingston spends 6 months tracking two of America's most radical Christian hate groups - a notorious pastor from Arizona and a network of extremist preachers.
JOHN SCHLITT’S ROAD TO REDEMPTION: The lead singer of one of the most famous rock bands in the 70's, John Schlitt, was thrown into a life of parties, drugs, drinking and women. John was out of control with no way out, certain he was worth more dead than alive. John’s life is one of failures, miracles, disappointments, forgiveness, and pure joy.
Based upon the Gold-Medallion award-winning best-seller, The Case for Christ documents Lee Strobel's journey from atheism to faith through his two-year investigation of the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ.
Documentary film about Tony Halme, masculinity and populism. The film follows how Tony Halme created a mythical, highly masculine freestyle wrestling character, The Viking, who gained fame both in the ring and in the public eye and eventually became captivated by it. With his brash speeches, Halme fired the starting shot for the rise of the Finns Party. The voice of a forgotten section of the population, a protest against the ruling elite, were the building blocks of Halme's popularity. Halme's great popularity has served as a good example of a populist figure, admired within the deep ranks of the nation, who comes from outside the political elite and changes the direction of politics. Also, despite - or perhaps because of - his openly racist statements, he was part of changing the political climate in Finland to a more acrimonious one.
Sunlight is the inspirational story of Donald Gray’s quest to save children trapped in the darkness of economic and social despair. His team works daily to “save one child at a time,” from a cycle of poverty, drugs, violence, and family disintegration.
“Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred,” directed by Canadian-Israeli filmmaker Raphael Shore, interweaves historical analysis with contemporary events through the voices of clerics, historians, sociologists, and cultural commentators, including the late British Chief Rabbi Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, author Yossi Klein Halevi, Israel’s antisemitism envoy Michal Cotler-Wunsh, and journalists Bari Weiss and Douglas Murray. It argues that antisemitism stems not from a perception of Jewish inferiority, but rather from resentment of Jewish excellence and moral leadership.
Three leading figures in today's Buddhist-Christian dialogue share their personal journeys in the new documentary Jesus and Buddha: Practicing Across Traditions. We learn how following the path of the Buddha has informed and deepened their understanding of who Jesus was and what he taught. Their experience and insight bring these two liberating archetypes alive in a way that can help guide us through our own confusion and struggle toward lives filled with joy and gratitude, compassion and service.
In 1830 Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Today, Smith's Mormon Empire boasts a membership of millions of dedicated followers, and is said to be the largest business corporation in the Western United States! What is the purpose of this organization that now encompasses an incalculable amount of influence in city, state and federal government, law enforcement agenices, the FBI and CIA? Chuck Smith and Caryl Matrisciana document the history, methods, and theology of Mormonism, uncovering many 'hidden secrets' of this latter day empire.
Mind Control: the ability to captivate and control the hearts and minds of others for one's own purpose. Most people believe they are immune to brainwashing. Yet time and again the 20th century has witnessed the atrocities of ruthless leaders as they continue to exploit their vulnerable and idealistic followers. Chuck Smith and Caryl Mastrisciana confront the manipulative techniques of mind control. Shocking footage of actual mind control therapies highlights this fascinating and explosive expose.
In the 1990s, alt-rock band Luxury is skyrocketing toward national fame until a life-threatening tour bus wreck shakes each band member to his core. Today, Luxury is led by three orthodox priests--and they're still rocking.
A talented artist creates a portrait of someone he has never seen before.
Did Jesus exist? This film starts with that question, then goes on to examine Christianity as a whole.
Can the Holy Spirit direct a movie? In this fast-paced documentary from the director of the popular films Finger of God, Furious Love, and Father of Lights, Darren Wilson sets out to make a movie that is completely led by the Holy Spirit. No plan, no script, no safety net--just go wherever he feels the Spirit leading him to try and discover the adventure God has for him. Whether it's the riches of Monte Carlo, a heavy metal concert, or the oldest city in the world, the result is a film that not only challenges and excites, but also reveals a God who is far more alive and active than you ever imagined.