Seven Movies Ministers Should See

Like any art form, movies are the source of a wide variety of debate and opinion.  Indeed, some movies probably should not even be considered “art.”  However, no one cannot deny the power of audio visual art, when done well, to move us and even to teach us.  Although I am part of a denomination that has not always embraced the arts – especially movies – I have been deeply moved and shaped by many movie classics and even by movies that are not exactly classics. 

So, below, I will make a case for a few of the many movies that I believe every pastor would benefit from seeing.  Some of these movies contain elements and language that I would not endorse outside of the context of the actual movies presented.  In those cases, though, I believe that overall themes of the movie are more powerful and positive than some of the distracting elements of the movies themselves.  Again, these are not necessarily movies recommended for “movie night with the family” (though some could be!) or at the church.  They are, however, movies that I believe can challenge us and shape us as pastoral leaders in dealing with the realities of the fallen world in which we are called to minister.  More specifically, many of these movies can challenge us toward excellence in our calling to “shepherd the flock of God.”  The movies with an asterisk (*) are rated R.  There are many others I could add to this list, but for the sake of time and space, I submit the following movies as helpful to ministers:

1. Babette’s Feast (1987) – This movie won the Oscar for best foreign film and has been a mainstay in many religion departments ever since.  To watch it in English requires watching subtitles, but it is very much worth the time and effort (DVD versions do have overdubbed English, but it is more fun and insightful to watch it in the original language and read the subtitles, in my opinion).  Babette is a young woman who shows up one day in a devoutly religious closed community and becomes a cook and housekeeper for two sisters whose father founded the religious (Christian) community.  Through various twists of fate, Babette, after years of quietly serving, discovers that she has won the lottery, and has enough money to leave this isolated island community.  She decides to throw a lavish feast.  Its ramifications on this sheltered and simple community become life-changing and are meant to teach us something about community and even about Communion (Eucharist).  It is rated PG and is meaningful for the whole family.

*2. Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Shawshank Redemption follows Andy Dufresne (pronounced “Dufrain”), an upper middle class banker who is falsely convicted of murdering his wife.  It follows his journey (narrated by “Red,” who befriends him in prison, and is brilliantly played by Morgan Freeman) into the notorious Shawshank Prison, and his quest for his own survival and redemption.  Warning: there are a few scenes that are difficult to watch, and there is language that reflects that hard realities of prison life in America (though this story is set in the early to mid-twentieth century).  However, like many Stephen King adaptations (this movie is an extended version of a Stephen King short story), there are subtle and not so subtle Christian based themes, including strong Messianic symbols throughout.  This is useful to ministers, because it is ultimately about ways of being religious – some healthy, some not so healthy – and about finding and sharing redemption in unexpected places.

3. High Noon (1952) – This now classic Western starring Academy Award winner Gary Cooper in his last great film performance contains so many parallels to the kinds of choices and conflicts ministers (and other leaders) are faced with.  Cooper’s character is a marshal, who is about to give us his role in order to marry a Quaker woman (played by Grace Kelly, in her first major role).  At the time of their wedding, Cooper finds out that many of the criminals he helped put away in order to clean up the town years earlier are coming back into town for revenge.  He is faced with a dilemma: face them and possibly face his own death at the beginning of this new life, or stick to his resignation and just ride away.  Unlike the “shoot ‘em up” Westerns of this era, High Noon has very little gun play.  It is focused more on the pressures that go into making life changing decisions.  And though many great present and future 1950s stars dot the cast (see how many you can recognize!), the real “star” seems to be the clock, which is seen ticking toward high noon in nearly every scene.  Do you want a preview about the nature of support – good and bad – a pastor/leader receives in a ministerial setting?  High Noon is the place to start.

4. A River Runs Through It (1992) – This semi-autobiographical movie about the life of former University of Chicago professor Norman Maclean (1902-1990) gives us a glimpse of frontier Montana in the early twentieth century.  More than that, this movie traces the relationship of two brothers (Norm and his younger brother, played by a young Brad Pitt!) whose father is a Presbyterian minister in a land that contains both impeccable beauty and dark treachery.  How do families and individuals navigate such a terrain?  That is an everyday question in ministry, and this story shows the reality of such a journey, reminding us of the importance of words, of family, and of love.

*5. Schindler’s List (1993) – Although this now one of the most recognized movies on the planet (and rightly so), it still has much to say about things like courage, original sin, and the power of love.  Arthur Schindler, like many of us, begins as a pragmatists, but in the face of great suffering and great love becomes much more.  May it be so for us, as well.

6. Malcom X (1992) – Why does the story of a former leader in the Nation of Islam make the list of movies Christian ministers should see?  There are several reasons.  First, the performance of the great Denzel Washington is flawless.  You will not be able to watch actual Malcolm X clips again without seeing Denzel.  Secondly, over the past twenty years of asking students and parishoners in largely white Evangelical communities how many have seen this movie, very few say that they have seen it.  The era in American history that this movie addresses (the Civil Rights Era of the mid-twentieth century) is one of the most influential periods in American history, and this movie gives an important “inside story” regarding this era that is not often seen in mainstream media.  Third, and most important for our discussion here, it can help ministers and other leaders see the importance of empathy and of growing in our own leadership.  Malcolm Little, who becomes Malcolm X, begins as a hustler and their, he then becomes a convert to the Nation of Islam who is full of zeal, and finally his eyes are opened to a larger way of thinking that he has encountered in the Nation of Islam, emerging before his assassination as a civil rights leader whose vison began to expand beyond the confines of the limited vision of his former leader Elijah Mohammed.  For those seeking to be multi-cultural leaders, this movie is a must.  For those seeking to continue to develop a broader perspective of a more global ministry, this movie is quite helpful as well. 

7. Two Pixar Movies: UP and Toy Story 3 – (UP, 2009; Toy Story 3, 2010) – A good minister must be in tune with every age group.  Up beautifully weaves in themes regarding young, old, married, widowed, divorced, and lonely characters who discover how to really live.  While all the Toy Story movies are worthwhile, Toy Story 3 gives us insight to the growing population of empty nesters, and it reminds us of our need to not take ourselves too seriously as leaders, even though we are to take what we do very seriously. 

I know that technically there are eight movies here, but please know that there could have around 100!  There are many honorable mentions including Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, and even The Godfather!  By only including these above, I only mean to highlight the important role movies can play to help remind us of the kind of journey we are on in ministry: a journey that does not seek to escape the realities of our world, but rather seeks to confront those realities with the love and grace that is best found in the community of faith, the Church. 

Do you have movies that ministers or other leaders should watch?  I would love to hear about them.  Chances are I will agree with your selections.  Happy viewing!