Discussing
When faith had a place on the big screen

(Sorry in advance, this is kind of all over the place. :-)

"The Seventh Seal" is one of the big reasons I love foreign films today. Whether then or now (e.g., with "Let the Right One In") foreign filmmakers seem to tell a much more honest, compelling story than their Hollywood counterparts.

Maybe if movies tend to be less focus on Christians, it's because Christians themselves aren't living those honest, compelling stories. For example, Bach didn't write great Christian music — he wrote great music that happened to be Christian (or commissioned for Christian purposes). Or maybe it's because those compelling Christian stories don't really appeal to the masses, given that ours is a kingdom unseen... how much can Michael Bay really explode in support of Christ's invisible reign?! :-P

Or maybe I don't quite understand the question. "The Wrestler" was not agnostic at all, but took a stance quite in favor of nihilism. "Gran Torino" was blatantly spiritual in that it oozed topics like redemption (and, surprisingly, represented Christianity in a very fair way). "I've Loved You So Long" was a slow burn of a movie about forgiveness, primarily of oneself. And so on, right down my Netflix queue... :-) If the question is why are those movies so unwilling to come down on the side of Christ or to make a decision about Him at all, I'd say it's because humanity itself is so unwilling to come down on the side of Christ or to make a decision about Him.

If you're asking, however, about the last mainstream movie that blatantly, rather than allegorically or metaphorically, advanced Christian ideals, rather than simply addressing spiritual problems, I would say "End of the Spear" would be that movie.

I love Ingmar Bergman’s Seventh Seal and it also launched me on a journey to appreciate foreign films. Has anyone seen Andrei Tarkovsky’s movie, Andrei Rublev, the Icon Maker (1969)? Powerful. I was thinking though of films of the last 30 years produced by Hollywood and directed at Christians or dealing with Biblical themes. I am sure I am missing lots, but I do think there is some appreciation for Christians. Whether the movies are good or not is another story but some of these are excellent. I think of:

Chariots of Fire
The Apostle (Robert Duvall)
Flatliners
Bruce Almighty
Evan Almighty
Prince Caspian
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Fellowship of the Rings
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
The Passion of Christ
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Amazing Grace
The Mission
Luther
The Nativity
Shadowlands (CS Lewis autobiographical story)
A long Walk Home

Bergman was under no compulsion to adhere to ANY doctrine or "politically correct" line, so he freely explored a question to which he could give no answer, and did not attempt to. Christians of various denominations might question or complain, or might appreciate, or some of each, as might agnostics, atheists, historians who might or might not be religious, and art critics simply enthralled with the use of symbols. I saw it at age 17 or so, when it was already old, and didn't try to delve too deeply, but simply watched the symbolism play out. By the way, the film opens with a quote from Revelations, about the Lamb opening the Seventh Seal. But Bergman wasn't offering a "Left Behind" script, he knew he didn't have that kind of detailed answers to offer.

I think horror films are one area where Christians themes are often addressed. I guess it's easier to talk about God and the spiritual when a movie is about the supernatural. Unfortunately, many Christians won't watch horror and so miss seeing these types of movies. I love to watch horror, not only because it often gets me thinking about God, but it also helps me to see how the wider community think about God.

For example, Stephen King's Desperation is very much about God. One of my favourite parts in the movie is when one character tells the boy to go over there and pray. And there is a lot of talk about God in that movie. There's also a fair bit of talk about God in I am Legend. And the ending, in particular, really draws on the Christian message of Jesus sacrificing himself for the world. But they also both have something to say about how people other than Christians view God. With both of these movies, I really wanted to talk to another Christian about them. But not many of the Christians I knew would watch movies like that.

One thing I do think is missing is ordinary Christians in movies. I would love to do more Christians, just going about their everyday lives. Instead, they are often characterised as old fuddy-duddies or people that seem to be mentally unstable.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "blatantly Christian." There are movies that are about themes that are extremely pertinent to Christianity, for instance, but do not mention God or Christ once. Actually, what pops to min is Harry Potter - and the many discussions we see about the need to do what is right versus what is easy or convenient. There are several conversations on this point. Also in Lord of the Rings thee was a discussion about death being just the next step in the adventurre. God and Christ are never mentioned. I am sure other people could come up with other more recent movies.

Sadly, for many people (especially "artsy" people) Christianity can seem a little too "easy." Most people don't talk about God so much in our culture, but they may talk about right/wrong, faith, hope, the need for saving - which can be bland and general, or can be the Christian story told in a different guise. I suspect this is what's going on.

I agree with pcg - there are lots of mainstream movies that hinge on spirituality, although overt Christian spirituality is harder to find.