The Twelve Days Of Movies

By Beth Davies-Stofka

There was plenty of movie magic, and religion and spirituality, to draw interested audiences to the theaters this year. A number of wide-release films used wizards, ghosts, monsters, apocalypse, and conspiracy in hopes of making blockbuster history, and two of these -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and 2012 -- took their place among the top 50 highest-grossing films of all time. Another, Where the Wild Things Are , received particular notice for its accomplishments in cinematography and design.

Our top twelve religious and spiritual films of 2009 were chosen for excellence of craft, positive critical reception, and depth of thought. While some readers may wish us to define what we mean by "religion" and "spirituality," we prefer to let the movies themselves drive those definitions. Movies use the literature, symbols, and themes of the major world's religions for cinematography, characters, and plot. They explore such spiritual themes as transcendence, hope, and the place of the human in the natural world. In addition, movies love the supernatural, from angels and demons, to ghosts, spirits, and shape-shifters.

Movies don't often clearly distinguish these categories, and neither should we. We can just be glad that there are always thoughtful directors to provide us with satisfying visuals and nourishing food for thought year-round.

So without further ado, here is Patheos.com's list of the top twelve religious and spiritual films of 2009. They are listed in the order of their American release dates.

Billu

Based on the story of Krishna and Sudama from the Bhagavata Purana, Billu tells the story of a friendship between a poor villager and a Bollywood superstar. This simple morality tale is distinguished by its honest story telling, and Indian actors Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan deliver heartfelt and appealing performances.

India, Red Chillies Studio Directed by Priyadarshan No US release date scheduled Available on DVD

Cherry Blossoms

Widower Rudi travels to Japan to mourn his wife by discovering the culture that attracted and fascinated her. A beautifully crafted and wistful film about life's impermanence, Cherry Blossoms draws on such central symbols as Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms in its poetic exploration of life's meaning.

Germany, Olga Film GmbH Directed by Doris Dörrie US release date January, 2009 Available on DVD

Earth

Using state-of-the-art equipment, the BBC Natural History Unit filmed the nature documentary Earth over a single calendar year, starting at the North Pole in January and finishing in the Antarctic in December. A cautionary exploration of the dazzling diversity of life on the planet, Earth is a stirring celebration of humanity's home. Look for the sequel, Ocean , on Earth Day 2010.

Britain-Germany-USA, Disneynature and BBC Worldwide Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield US release date Earth Day, 22 April 2009 Available on DVD

The Stoning of Soraya M.

Based on a true story, this harrowing film tells the story of a 35-year-old mother of seven who was stoned to death after her husband accused her of infidelity. Highly critical of the Iranian legal system, the book on which the film is based was banned in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Stoning of Soraya M . raises disturbing questions about the ways in which religion can be subverted to justify sadism, torture, and murder.

USA, Roadside Attractions Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh US release date June, 2009 Not yet available on DVD

Thirst

A Catholic priest becomes a vampire by accident while engaged in an act of great humility and personal sacrifice. This unfortunate event launches the priest on an epic struggle with his thirst for blood, and for true love. Shot with a delicious sense of the comedic, Thirst nonetheless contains serious reflection on what it might take to save one's soul.

South Korea, Focus Features Directed by Chan-wook Park US release date July, 2009 Available on DVD

Cold Souls

An actor by the name of Paul Giamatti (played by Paul Giamatti) is scheduled to open as Uncle Vanya , and is struggling with the role. Spotting an ad for a company that extracts souls and places them in cold storage, Giamatti believes he has found the answer to his troubles and signs up. This laugh-out-loud comedy explores what it might really be like to at last be relieved of our burdens, only to want them back.

USA, Journeyman Pictures Directed by Sophie Barthes US release date August, 2009 Not yet available on DVD

Ponyo

This affectionate animated feature, with vague resemblance to the fairy tale of The Little Mermaid , tells a story of what happens when the magical creatures of the ocean mingle with human beings on the land. From legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, Ponyo is a sweet and joyful celebration of lives illuminated by love.

Japan, Walt Disney Pictures/Studio Ghibli Directed by Hayao Miyazaki US release date August, 2009 Not yet available on DVD

9

A rag doll named 9 awakens to a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by machines, and his survival seems unlikely until he meets a handful of other dolls and they begin to piece together their origins. Through its stunning animation this brief feature film gently questions the relationship between technology and the soul.

USA, Focus Features Directed by Shane Acker US release date September 2009 Available on DVD 12/29/2009

A Serious Man

It's 1967, and physics professor Larry Gopnik is helplessly watching as his life unravels. As the blows to his sense of normalcy come faster and harder, he gropes around for a way to make sense of it all, seeking the counsel of three rabbis and finding solace in his son's Bar Mitzvah. While there may not be an answer to life's absurdity and despair, in A Serious Man the Coen brothers prove that it's all actually very, very funny.

USA, Focus Features Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen US release date October 2009 Not yet available on DVD

Antichrist

In a movie year of comedy, cautious optimism, and even hope, Antichrist stands out for its direct confrontation with the evils of humanity and the natural world. Criticized for its scenes of intense sexual violence, Antichrist has been compared to A Clockwork Orange for the visceral and disturbing blows it delivers. Indeed the violence of the religious imagery far surpasses 2004's The Passion of the Christ .

Denmark, IFC Films Directed by Lars von Trier US release date October 2009 Not yet available on DVD

A Christmas Carol

Motion-capture animation has progressed to dazzling new heights of achievement. Scrooge is shrunken in his misery, Marley is desperate in his torment, the ghosts are in turn sympathetic and cruel, and the colors, depth, and creativity of the film reveal this familiar story as something fresh and new. Audiences will delight in Dickens' central theme: that Christmas is the time when hopeful good news is announced to the world.

USA, Walt Disney Pictures Directed by Robert Zemeckis US release date November 2009 Not yet available on DVD

The Blind Side

This sublimely conventional film would be unbearable in its racist condescension if it were not based on a true story. It recounts the true tale of a Christian Republican southern belle who adopted a homeless black teenager, and because it is so conventional, it is gentle and inspiring. It also blithely reminds viewers that in America, football is one of the pillars of religion.

USA, Warner Bros. Pictures Directed by John Lee Hancock US release date November 2009 Not yet available on DVD

Addendum : 2009 is not done yet! Two movies scheduled for release before the end of the year might merit your attention. On December 18, James Cameron's Avatar heads into wide release. It features jaw-dropping cinematography and brilliant battle scenes while pushing us to consider who we are, and who we could be. On December 25, Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus opens. An absolute visual delight, it also delivers an encounter with the Devil and a serious reflection on the role of stories in the project of creation. The year in movies promises to end in style.

The Twelve Days of Movies