The other day, someone asked me if I knew of any movies that demonstrate the radical nature of the Gospel. In other words, they wanted to know of any flicks that they could show their parents that would help their parents understand the radical stuff that they’ve gotten into.

When Jesus started preaching, he didn’t jump into philosophical arguments or a list of propositions. Usually, he raised cognitive dissonance by challenging his listeners’ perceptions (the Sermon on the Mount does this) or he used provocative parables (parables don’t illustrate simple truths so much as they raise ethical dilemmas) or he acted in ways that upset common sensibilities (by eating with the wrong people or healing on the wrong day).

When it comes to challenging perceptions, telling provocative stories, and upsetting common sensibilities, films can sometimes further (and deeper) than cleverly written works of non-fiction or thoughtful arguments.

And so, I offer my list of seven flicks that subvert conventional wisdom and help bridge towards a kingdom vision:

1. To End All Wars: Allied prisoners-of-war in a WWII Japanese prison camp attempt to love their enemies.
2. The Mission: A Jesuit missionary in South America struggles against colonialism while a Portuguese convert grapples with his own violent nature. This film raises painful questions about the history of missions and the relationship between church and state.
3. Children of Men: This film demonstrates the human capacity for marginalizing “the other.” In its bleak portrayal of growing human despair, glimpses of hope are all the more poignant.
4. Maria Full of Grace: A gritty story of an illegal immigrant’s journey to the United States. The film gives a fairly objective perspective on illegal immigration and the drug trade.
5. The Woodsman: A sympathetic take on the life of a child molester trying to make a new life after he is released from prison. This film forced me to ask myself, “how do I show love to one of the ‘least of these’ if he is guilty of hurting the ‘least of these’ himself?”
6. Network: Upon discovering that he is going to be fired after decades as a news anchor, an aging anchorman announces to viewers that he commit suicide during his last broadcast. Seeing that it helps ratings, greedy execs exploit the anchorman’s devolving emotional state in front of millions of viewers. This satire from 1976 holds up fairly well as a critique of the exploitative nature of modern media.
7. Dogville: A woman on the run is grudgingly accepted by a cautious secluded town. Their fragile acceptance is shattered as hospitality gives way to human nature. This film (which reminds a LOT of the writings of Flannery O’Conner) is an excellent exploration of hospitality and grace in America.

Any films I should add to the list?

About Mark Van Steenwyk

Mark Van Steenwyk is a member of Missio Dei. He is a speaker, writer, educator, and grassroots organizer. With the support of the Central Plains Mennonite Conference, he travels to radical and intentional communities around the country to help network and offer support.