Way back in January, we talked about the 10 Best Ignatian Movies. Yesterday, as I was walking back from lunch with a couple of colleagues, we started talking about movies that changed the way we look at the world. They were not [necessarily] our favorite movies, but ones that have forever changed our perceptions. Here’s my list:
- Hitchcock’s The Birds [1963] Looking at it now, I see that some of the effects are really cheesy, but flocks of birds still make me feel uneasy…
- Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun [1971] Convinced me that pacifism is the only sane path.
- Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now [1979] This adaptation of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness set in the Vietnam War gave me insight into what Hannah Arendt has called “the banality of evil” in a way that nothing else has done.
- Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane [1941] It is difficult for me to describe how this film has changed my life, but the encounter with a director of such genius profoundly impacted me. His use of deep-focus photography and multiple viewpoints in constructing the story of a William Randolph Hearst-like figure has haunted me ever since I first saw it.
- Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly’s Singin’ in the Rain [1952] I was determined to have one cheerful movie in the list and this is it. Having said that, I have read about the difficulties Gene Kelly faced in filming the famous “I’m singing in the rain” sequence – he had a fever, the warehouse where it was filmed was sweltering, the water & milk mixture used to make the “rain” visible caused his suit to shrink, etc. And, yet, when you watch it on video, it is breezy and joyous. From this film, I learned that what seems effortless most often is the result of a lot of hard work.
Okay, so what are some of the films that have changed the way you look at the world around you?
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Dan 07.15.09 at 7:54 am
1) The Graduate
2) The Deer Hunter
3) Godfather I & II
4) Breaking Away
5) Star Wars
Paul 07.15.09 at 9:37 am
Dan,
Thanks. I’d love to hear why they altered your perceptions.
Paul
Marg 07.15.09 at 11:16 am
Here goes:
1. Robinhood – the original! Supported my childhood reading and imagination. Could watch it a million times.
2. Wizard of Oz – watched when it first came on T.V. I was a child and the flying monkeys scared the daylights out of me! Fast forward and my own daughter loved it! Had the character dolls and could recite dialog. She was never afraid. How perspective changes over time.
3. Mary Poppins – daydreamed through it with my first serious boyfriend. What different turns my life has taken since then!
4. The Godfather – in a strange way. I always identified with the Diane Keaton character as being the only blonde in the room; always outside the circle.
5. Born of the 4th of July & Mississippi Burning both for the same reasons. Proved to me that what I saw in theh 60’s was all for real. Change, upheaval, pain. Some of those issues still stand.
Enjoyed the question!
M.
Paul 07.15.09 at 2:30 pm
Marg,
I’m glad you enjoyed the question. I think I have see all the movies you mention and while the are memorable for me, they obviously made more impact than that on you. Thank you for sharing your list.
Paul
Crystal 07.15.09 at 7:58 pm
Not in any order …
1) The Deer Hunter – reinforced my peace-nik beliefs
2) All the President’s Men – helped make me sort of cynical about politics
3) Brother Sun Sister Moon, and The Mission – so inspiring!
4) Jaws – gave me the feeling not exactly that life is cheap but that bad things do happen to us regardless of what kind of lives we lead
5) Romeo and Juliet – true love
Eric 07.15.09 at 9:14 pm
Shadowlands – All the spirituality in the world does not change the human need to grieve. I just know that if we would allow Jesus to grieve with us and to allow other fellow human beings to grieve with us, there is depth and richness despite the aching sorrow.
A Man For All Seasons – It is better to die being who you really are than to live in opposition to your conscience.
Becket – The height of political power can end up empty and destructive. Living where God calls us to live is fulfilling even if it leads to suffering and death.
Ghandi – The power of peace is incredible. We will be so much happier when we (Hindus and Muslims in the movie, but Christians, Jews, atheists, etc.) can learn to love and respect each other.
Amadeus – Music is a gift of God. It should not be used for political advancement or proclamation of ideology or for assertion of one’s superiority. It is to be valued for its own beauty, a beauty to enrich the lives of all people.
Eric 07.15.09 at 9:22 pm
Sorry, I can’t resist adding a sixth.
David and Lisa – Sometimes it is only those suffering pain and weakness that can heal another suffering pain and weakness.
Paul 07.16.09 at 12:59 pm
Crystal,
Thank you for your list and for the explanations. I’m glad that “Jaws” didn’t have the same sort of effect on me that “The Birds” did, otherwise I would never have gone swimming again!
Paul
Paul 07.16.09 at 1:00 pm
Eric,
I have seen all the movies you have mentioned except the last on, “David & Lisa.” I will now go on IMDB.com to see if I can find it.
Paul
Maura 07.16.09 at 1:59 pm
1. I agree with Eric about A Man for All Seasons, (Going to a college named after St. Thomas More it was required viewing) it inspired in me a sense that we need to follow our conscience right inspite of all those around us. My favorite scene is when his friend basically says to Thomas for pete sake sign for frienship sake and Thomas replies When you go to heaven for following your conscience and I go to hell for not following mine will you come and visit me in hell for friendship sake.
2. I agree with Crystal about the Mission. For me it gives witness to two equally important approaches within the church prayer and action. It was life changing to see that I wasn’t the only one who struggles between the two and also gives me respect for those who choose to approach problems we face with a different approach.
3. the 2003 film Mother Teresa Give me hope during those moments when my relationship with God is more dessert like than I would like it to be.
4. Saving Private Ryan I could never watch another war movie again and see war as a “noble” effort. I think it was the begining of what my brother jokingly refers to as my transformation into a crazy liberal. It made me brave enough to be constantly raising the issue of the justifiablity of the war in Iraq with the parish’s social ministry committee, students and family.
So Paul when are you going to ask us about songs or musicals?
Paul 07.16.09 at 2:25 pm
Maura,
Thank you both for your additions to the list and for your suggestion that we talk about songs and musicals. Have you been following the discussion about “Best Ignatian Songs” at our sister “DotMagis Blog” ?
http://ignatianspirituality.com/category/ignatian-songs/
Paul
marpet 07.24.09 at 4:15 am
The Ten Commandments – from the first time i saw it till now, it is a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and grace. The parting of the sea is still one of my favorite movie special effects
Father Peyton’s Holy Rosary Series – It’s a TV series that used to be shown during Holy Week. It chronicles Christ’s Life through the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. It’s a reminder that salvation was made through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Schindler’s List & Saving Private Ryan – two movies that complement each other. One showing the contrast of man’s inhumanity and man’s saving grace and the other showing why countries go to war.