Enlightening Cinema. Wisdom Movies.

Those movies that, for some reason or another, touched you deep inside or taught you something, or that you remember with special gratitude. Some of mines, in no particular order:

1 - Stalker, by Andrei Tarkovsky
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079944/

The search for The Zone... a place where one's secret hopes come true. What is The Zone for you?

2 - Baraka, by Ron Fricke, 1992
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/

After watching this, I felt immensely grateful to be alive on planet Earth.

3 - The Matrix, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions, by Andy & Larry Wachowski
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234215/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0242653/

If the "Truth", whatever that means, is not there, it's nowhere. There is no spoon, Neo. B-)

You follow.

MindWalk by Bernt Amadeus Capra
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100151/

A poet, a scientist, and a politician talk about the world in terms of interconnectedness. The plot is thin, but the discussion is really interesting. It put words to a lot of the chaotic thoughts that were rummaging as yet incompletely formed in my head. Great movie.

I have had several people tell me that the movie Magnolia was life changing for them...but it just didn't do it for me--even after reading online descriptions of the 'hidden messages'. Anyone else?

Hmmm, there have been a lot of these for me but here are a few:
1) "Shine"-- With Geoffrey Rush. Restored my faith in the ability of creative genius and sensitivity to survive in a world that sometimes treats it brutally because it does not always comprehend or appreciate it.
2) "Babel"-- For all it says about the universality of humanity and the need to connect on multiple levels.
3) "Amistad"-- Few movies have illustrated the triumphant powers of the human spirit as well as this one.

the Celestine Prophecy, the book was a bit better than the movie, but both are still worth a look

The first Matrix movie truly was a work of wisdom, but they went downhill as the series progressed, IMHO.

Recently I saw Pan's Labyrinth, which was very moving, and complicated in all the right ways.

Glory was a movie that moved me to tears.

Pan's Labyrinth was a masterpiece. It sure deserved more Oscars.

There's a good list at http://www.amarjah.org/movies_a-c.htm

What the Bleep Do We Know?

And I'll second the recommendation for "MindWalk". That kind of "talk about life" movie always gets me. Kind of like that: "Before Sunset" and the companion "Before Sunrise".

Anyone seen Waking Life? That movie is really just a series of animated conversations on some (more or less) interesting topics. I especially enjoy it's discussion of science and the question of free will.

American Beauty stretches sometimes, but overall I think it is a great look at life and how we live it, and finding happiness for ourselves.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring is a foreign film that is well worth the effort to find it, and it may be as simple as checking your local Blockbuster's foreign film section. Another foreign film worth catching is The Way Home, a Korean film.

Some movies I've enjoyed because of their treatment of the topic of love are Big Fish (love between father and son) and Grave of the Fireflies (love between siblings).

I agree with DNAlien about both Waking Life and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, & Spring - with SSFWS being my personal winner. It's a beautifully filmed story. Little dialogue, but you don't need talking to grasp the parable.

On a bit of a different level, I'll recommend "Rent" if you haven't seen it. It's out on DVD and the 2nd disc has the story of Jonathan Larson's life and death. Wow.

"There's only now
There's only here
Give in to love
Or live in fear
No other path
No other way
No day but today."

DNAlien, I would, however, warn people that "Grave of the Fireflies" is an extremely emotionally jarring movie. I don't cry because of movies very often, and I found myself sobbing at the end of this. Its not violent in terms of bloodshed, its just really, really upsetting seeing what the two main character go through. This is an anime, but it is most definitely NOT for kids younger that highschool.

Magnolia wasn't life-changing for me but when I saw it I did see why it could be. It's an incredibly redemptive film and a rare antidote to modern cynicism, which seems to pervade every cultural outlet.

I quite enjoyed the 1985 film Creator with Peter O'Toole... although commonly rated rather low by reviewers, much of that is because the film is wrongly presented (including on the box/poster) as a mapcap comedy. It's a philosophical and romantic film with light comedic elements. I think it's quite well done, and seeing it as a youngster helped me always to bear in mind "The Big Picture." I've always wished for more professors like Dr. Wolper... 10+ years of "higher" education later I've met exactly 2 who weren't just going through the motions!

Wow! Surprised nobody's listed "My Dinner With Andre". Also: "Meetings with Remarkable Men" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" (especially the sequences after traveling through the stargate). Agree with "Waking Life"; enjoyed "Mind Walk" and "Before Sunrise" et al.

What Dreams May Come was had some cheesy acting but it has perhaps the best cinematography I have ever seen and I come back to it again again and I think more about life love and death

The Fountain was one of the most beautiful movies I have seen in a long time and had similar themes.

American Beauty is similar in that it has outstanding cinematography and is about life and death but I think it has one of the most beautiful ending of any movie

Battlestar Galactica is a TV show that, for me, has redefined what TV can be. There is so much about religion, destiny, politics, and spirituality and it is so intense that I feel like anyone could gain something from getting into it

Dreams by Akira Kurosawa is slow moving like Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring but it is so brilliant, seven stories that stuck with the director that he wanted to put on film. They go in the order of his life from one he had when he was a small boy to, my favorite one, when he is an old man

I've seen these in the last...three or four months. All could be interpreted as "spiritual" to one degree or another.

Anchoress - was she touched by god or not?
Antwone Fisher - "bad" boy turns good via military & psychology & love
Cape of Good Hope -romantic story with a twist or two
Carlos Castaneda: Enigma of A Sorcerer - title says it all
Existenz - Matrix precursor - Are we in the game or in real life?
Freedom Writers - feel good teacher story #1
Music of the Heart - feel good teacher story #2
Rabbit Proof Fence - triumph of human spirit story
The Way Home - small boy learns life lessons
Waking Life - as others have said above
Why Has Bodhi Dharma Left for the East? - finally getting around to watching this tonight

The March/April issue of Spirituality & Health has a listing of the "30 Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2006". Included in the list are 10 features: Akeelah and the Bee, Babel, Black Diamond, Happy Feet, Little Children, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen, Road to Guantanamo, Sweet Land, and Venus. The list also includes 10 foreign films, and 10 documentaries. 10 additional features are also listed as a sidebar: Catch a Fire, Children of Men, End of the Spear, Half Nelson, Look Both Ways, Old Joy, The Painted Veil, A Prairie Home Companion, 10 Items or Less, and Wondrous Oblivion. Unfortunately, there's no further information or linkage on the Spirituality and Health website....

The Red Violin is one of my all time favorites. The interconnectedness and similarities of people not just crosses centuries, but continents as well.

Looks like it's been a while since this topics been visited, but I have a couple of movies to add:

The Fountain: I thought it was one of the most
beautiful films I've ever seen - the story (stories), cinematography, soundtrack - all combined to really move me.

Life As a House: One of those movies that makes you really want to live each moment to its fullest.

I also agree with MindWalk & Waking Life. Also, does anyone else see Donnie Darko as a pretty philosophical flick?

1. The one project ..http://www.onetheproject.com/index.jsp

2. Time after Time :http://www.spiritofbaraka.com/time-after-time.aspx#images

3. The illuminating Chakras..By Anodea ,judith

And a slew of others too numerous to mention

I would have to say:

"What Dreams May Come".

There are more, but my mind is a total blank right now.

Also, I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't get anything from "Magnolia"!

#11 I know this message was written in March but I found the movie of Everything is illuminated to be a dissapointment - it is a very different plot line than the book and I was kind of upset because the movie seems decietful to me.

my favourite movies are:
"Sophies Choice" - based on the book - it taught me a lot about suffering and horror in the world.
Pi
Requiem for a dream
A room with a view - my favourite movie - it shows you how people can almost spoil their lives by doing the 'right' thing.

Has anyone seen "Koyanisqattsi"? Words alone can't do this film justice ...

I have seen Koyanisqattsi, KromesTomes. Simply, mind blowing. Stunningly beautiful.

Let me recommend some other movies similar to Koyanisqattsi and Baraka.

Powaqqatsi
Naqoyqatsi
Microcosmos
Anima Mundi

There's a website devoted to these and other non-verbal films:

Spirit of Baraka

"The Shawshank Redemption" remains an all time favorite movie - despite the terrible violence which disturbs me for days after seeing the movie, there's an underlying feeling of hope, of the possibility of redemption. The movie tells me: 'this is what we are, and look what we can do with what we are'.

- The films of Stan Brakhage particularly 'Moth Light' but he's got too many of significance to make a complete list.

- Jadorowsky's 'Holy Mountain'.
- Tarkovsky's 'Solaris'
- Teshigahara's 'Woman of the Dunes'
- Chris Marker's 'Sans Soleil'
- Peter Mettler's 'Picture of Light'
- Fellini's '8 1/2'

I'll stop there for now....

I think Peaceful Warrior (2006) belongs on this kind of list. Based on the book Way of the peaceful warrior : a book that changes lives.

Of course, my wisecrack answer is Dune. Nice young aristocrat takes drugs and becomes God. I like all three versions: Dune (1984), Dune (2000) and Dune (2006).

Try "Namesake",- an Indian/Bengali film.

Yes! It is a favorite..

A few years ago, I also got to see Philip Glass conduct an orchestra performing the soundtrack while the movie played in the background... a wonderful performance, it was.

The only movie that comes immediately to mind is Pi.

David Lynch films (not short films)

I think August Rush belongs on here. While about the beauty of music, it is also very much a spiritual film, and a film about the connectedness of family.

The Others freaked the hell out of me after seeing it, but it really got me thinking. I can't really say anything about the plot without ruining the surprise ending except to say it made me really think about how we know we are alive.

It's A Beautiful Life with Roberto Benigni was truly inspiring to me, despite its sad undertones. A classic. The humanity angle as well as a touching glimpse into the true love a parent has for a child. Love.

Namesake >>>awesome movie Naren559 ...beautiful countryside...gives one ,a peek..or a glimpse into the cuture and history of the city/country.

Illusion Comes to mind :
Legendary film director Donald Baines lies dying alone in his private screening room, watching the films he has devoted his life to creating. Having isolated himself from family and friends, he now regrets many personal sacrifices. The rejection of his illegitimate child, Christopher, brings him the most pain. Having seen him only once 30 years ago.

Late one night, Donald is awakened by the ghostly image of Stan, a favorite editor who has been dead more than 35 years. Suddenly Donald finds his deathbed transported to an old movie house. Stan informs Donald that he has come to help and that he will show him three films - three visions - each vision representing a different period of Christopher’s life.

De'ja' Vu :
Dana (Victoria Foyt), a young American woman traveling on business in Jerusalem, meets a mysterious older French woman at a café who shares a fascinating story of lost love revolving around the expensive antique ruby pin she's wearing. The woman exits the café abruptly, leaving the pin behind and Dana, who is on her way to meet her fiancé (Michael Brandon) in London, finds herself forced to reschedule her trip - and her life - as an unexpected but expected stranger (Stephen Dillane) crosses her path. Or has he already?

Little Buddha :
Lama Norbu comes to Seattle in search of the reincarnation of his dead teacher, Lama Dorje. His search leads him to young Jesse Conrad, Raju, a waif from Kathmandu, and an upper class Indian girl. Together, they journey to Bhutan where the three children must undergo a test to prove which is the true reincarnation. Interspersed with this, is the story of Siddharta, later known as the Buddha. It traces his spiritual journey from ignorance to true enlightenment.

In Little Buddha ,Keanu Reeves dyed/painted skin as the starring role , Is well,laughable. Takes a wee bit to get used to the eyeliner. Very informative,especially how they choose the successor.

I'm amazed and a little amused that no one here has mentioned my guiding informer: Joe Versus the Volcano. I own it and view it any time I need a fresh infusion of Greek chorus wisdom.

What a great topic here!

If documentaries may be listed in this forum, here is one I would definitely recommend: 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama. It is very much worth your time: beautiful cinematography, beautiful idea behind it all, but the most stunning is hearing the Dalai Lama discuss the greed, happiness, and the key to world peace: picnics! I recommend this film with no reservations!

Are you joking, dear friends?
Where's 2001 an Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick? The greatest movie in history of cinema!
It's not a simple movie, it's a symbol of human kind.
Is there anyone who disagree?
I don't think
VALE

Try When Nietzsche Wept.
Also check this (from the Existentialism group): http://www.dailymotion.com/user/Unbearab...

Thanks to all,
It looks like I have films to watch. (Touchstones led to the wrong sites, so I had to re-edit.)

Some of my favorites:

(1)"Blindness" from the book by Jose Saramago. Do yourselves a favor and do not read the reviews, I am relatively certain that the critics did not get it. Although it is sometimes hard to watch it is a remarkable film

(2) "The Lives of Others" not perfect but worthwhile

(3)"The Prisoner" (Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins in some ways seriously dated (I saw it as a child), but in other ways timeless.

(4) "Winged Migration" absolutely divine nature film.

(5) As stated before "Waking Life" and "Matrix 1"

(6) "A Man for All Seasons"

the Gods Must Be Crazy

> 44

One of my favorites. I also very much liked the movie Eating Raoul.

Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders - angels on the streets of berlin, and earthly love

Found this group courtesy of the new Group Recommender: like this thread and many of the suggestions will end up in my Netflix queue.

The film that comes to mind that's not yet mentioned: Jarmusch's Dead Man. I've read that many consider Ghost Dog more "insightful" but I found that work to be a rare miss for him and for the lead actor, a good idea but not quite realised.

For a good existential movie, which deals with the death angst: "The Bucket List"