In 1995, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications released ('Some Important Films'), a list of 45 films divided into the categories of religion, values, and art. These films were recommended for viewing by Pope John Paul II and John Patrick Foley.
Compilation The Pontifical Council for Social Communications released a list of 45 films to mark the centennial of Auguste and Louis Lumière's display of their films. These 45 films were divided into the categories of religion, values, and art. This list was released under the title Alcuni film importanti (Some Important Films). President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications John Patrick Foley, president of the Vatican Film Library Enrique Planas, and twelve experts on film, movie librarians, and academics compiled the list. Pope John Paul II recommended that these films be watched.
Analysis Foley stated that this list showed that great films could be made without pandering to violent or pornographic elements. He stated that the Church wanted viewers to be more critical of films rather than passively consuming them.
The list features films that contain elements critical of religion and the Catholic Church. The Mission features missionaries being undermined by a church leader. Franco Zeffirelli was critical of the list for not including any of his films.
Florent Cardon, writing for Aleteia, proposed that the Vatican should update the list for 2025, and include films like A Hidden Life and Of Gods and Men.
List
Title Year Category2001: A Space Odyssey1968Art 8½1963ArtAndrei Rublev1966ReligionAu revoir les enfants1987ValuesBen-Hur1959ReligionBabette's Feast1987ReligionThe Burmese Harp1956ValuesBicycle Thieves1948ValuesChariots of Fire1981ValuesCitizen Kane1941ArtDekalog1989ValuesDersu Uzala1975ValuesFantasia1940ArtThe Flowers of St. Francis1950ReligionFrancesco1989ReligionGandhi1982ValuesThe Gospel According to St. Matthew1964ReligionLa Grande Illusion1937ArtIntolerance1916ValuesIt's a Wonderful Life1946ValuesThe Lavender Hill Mob1951ArtThe Leopard1963ArtLittle Women1933ArtA Man for All Seasons1966ReligionMetropolis1927ArtThe Mission1986ReligionModern Times1936ArtMonsieur Vincent1947ReligionNapoléon1927ArtNazarín1959ReligionNosferatu1922ArtOn the Waterfront1954ValuesOrdet1955ReligionThe Passion of Joan of Arc1928ReligionRome, Open City1945ValuesThe Sacrifice1986ReligionSchindler's List1993ValuesThe Seventh Seal1957ValuesStagecoach1939ArtLa Strada1954ArtThérèse1986ReligionThe Tree of Wooden Clogs1978ValuesVie et Passion du Christ1903ReligionWild Strawberries1957ValuesThe Wizard of Oz1939Art
References
Works cited
News
Newspapers
Further reading