THE Holy Week is a time of detachment from the cares of this world, and a time to reconnect with our Maker. With Holy Thursday and Good Friday declared as legal holidays in the Philippines, families usually take the weekend off and often choose to spend some quality time together.
With much time to spare for prayer and reflection, watching spiritual, religious or Bible-based movies at home with loved ones becomes a yearly tradition. Here is a list of movies perfect for the Holy Week; a mix of the old and the new.
Holy Wednesday: “The Ten Commandments” (1956)
Start off the early weekend with a touch of history by watching the well-loved classic, “The Ten Commandments.” Many Filipinos consider the 1956 epic religious drama as a Holy Week tradition on television. Not only will the family be treated to an epic cinematic adventure but viewers will also be reminded of the simplicity of the Law: Love for God and Love for Man.
Holy Thursday: “Ben-Hur” 1959)
Considered by many as one of Hollywood’s grandest works, “Ben-Hur” is another epic religious drama focusing on the journey to true conversion. Fact: the film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards winning 11—only “Titanic” (1998) and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004) have matched it. As this day brings to mind Jesus’ washing of His disciples’ feet, a film like “Ben-Hur” can both entertain and inject the message of selflessness.
Good Friday: “The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
“The Passion of the Christ” is considered a game-changer in Biblical films. Released in 2014, the film focuses on the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life. The film goes for authenticity in terms of the languages used (Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin) and historical details. It is notable for its projection of violence that Jesus suffered on Good Friday. It remains, arguably, the highest grossing R-rated film of all time.
Black Saturday: “I Can Only Imagine” (2018)
With the weekend in full swing, the family might want to chill watching the fourth highest grossing music biopic only after “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Straight Outta’ Compton” and “Walk The Line.” “I Can Only Imagine” is a Christian drama film based on the story behind the song “I Can Only Imagine” by the band MercyMe. The film allows viewers to enjoy the feeling of anticipating bigger things to come.
Easter Sunday: “God’s Not Dead”
The Christian drama released in 2014 is considered by many film critics as a major letdown. However, the numbers speak otherwise. Produced on a budget of two million dollars, it went on and grossed a total of $62 million worldwide. Strip the film of its biases, the film’s core message resonates with a modern generation lost and running empty on hope: Faith counts for something. (S)