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Five Films for Easter

Mar 28, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jan 3

A Selection of films that are worth checking out in celebration of the Easter Holidays. These films explore similar parallels of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the world, as well as his resurrection.


The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The conclusion of Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is so large in scale that it becomes almost biblical, but indeed there are multiple forms of crucifixion and resurrection that are put upon the caped crusader. A season of judgement is brought on Gotham city by Bane and the League of Shadows to finally rid the city of its sin and corruption, defeated and broken in battle Bane has Batman aka Bruce Wayne imprisoned into a hellish pit with only one impossible means of escape. While Batman’s dark demeanour is not an obvious comparison to Christ, however it is his unstoppable devotion to put his broken city before himself. His commitment to this mission is what frees him from his pit in a giant leap of faith and allows him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Even in its final moments the Dark Knight Rises poses an ambiguous final question about whether Wayne has risen indeed.
The conclusion of Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is so large in scale that it becomes almost biblical, but indeed there are multiple forms of crucifixion and resurrection that are put upon the caped crusader. A season of judgement is brought on Gotham city by Bane and the League of Shadows to finally rid the city of its sin and corruption, defeated and broken in battle Bane has Batman aka Bruce Wayne imprisoned into a hellish pit with only one impossible means of escape. While Batman’s dark demeanour is not an obvious comparison to Christ, however it is his unstoppable devotion to put his broken city before himself. His commitment to this mission is what frees him from his pit in a giant leap of faith and allows him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Even in its final moments the Dark Knight Rises poses an ambiguous final question about whether Wayne has risen indeed.

Ordet (1955)

Ordet is another rare find of cinema wrestling with the nature of believing that has an astonishingly brave final moment of optimism in a drama of human tragedy and despair. But there does seem to be spiritual forces at work that are testing the true value of faith in the Borgen family and how much ‘the Word’ is truly alive in their hearts. One of the sons, Johannas who believes himself to be Jesus could be just mad or is he some kind of angelic messenger warning the Borgen men how they have lost sight of their saviour. It’s an incredibly powerful drama that feels even more relevant today, as well for its commentary on the bitter rivalry between the two different church denominations, but most of all for its study on family suffering and our longing for miracles.
Ordet is another rare find of cinema wrestling with the nature of believing that has an astonishingly brave final moment of optimism in a drama of human tragedy and despair. But there does seem to be spiritual forces at work that are testing the true value of faith in the Borgen family and how much ‘the Word’ is truly alive in their hearts. One of the sons, Johannas who believes himself to be Jesus could be just mad or is he some kind of angelic messenger warning the Borgen men how they have lost sight of their saviour. It’s an incredibly powerful drama that feels even more relevant today, as well for its commentary on the bitter rivalry between the two different church denominations, but most of all for its study on family suffering and our longing for miracles.

A Hidden Life (2019)

Terrence Malick’s overall filmography is stuffed of spiritual questioning and longing, his most recent film A Hidden Life tells the true story of Austrian conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to swear allegiance to Hitler when called up for duty. Under pressure from his village and even his own Church, Franz is imprisoned for his resistance which motivated by inner disturbance of evil that has overtaken his home. His struggle is shared with his wife Franziska who must suffer as the outcast from their town that have rejected Franz’s actions. While Malick’s filmmaking has its head in the clouds, his divine directing marries the grounded internal conflict of the subject very suitably with the heavenly shots of Franz’s family life in the mountains, which morphs into a more jarring and soulful prayer for courage. A Hidden Life is reminder of the quiet passions of resistance and faith that are not always recognised.
Terrence Malick’s overall filmography is stuffed of spiritual questioning and longing, his most recent film A Hidden Life tells the true story of Austrian conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to swear allegiance to Hitler when called up for duty. Under pressure from his village and even his own Church, Franz is imprisoned for his resistance which motivated by inner disturbance of evil that has overtaken his home. His struggle is shared with his wife Franziska who must suffer as the outcast from their town that have rejected Franz’s actions. While Malick’s filmmaking has its head in the clouds, his divine directing marries the grounded internal conflict of the subject very suitably with the heavenly shots of Franz’s family life in the mountains, which morphs into a more jarring and soulful prayer for courage. A Hidden Life is reminder of the quiet passions of resistance and faith that are not always recognised.

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

One of other most famous martyrs in history who was killed because of their faith is the French icon Joan of Arc. Her story has been adapted to screen many times, but Dreyer's silent masterpiece captures the most powerful emotion in the face of Maria Falconetti with one of the most expressive faces in cinema history. Dreyer's film portrays the injustice and bureaucratic pride of the Church opposing an innocent soul, defying a whole court out of the sheer strength in God. You don't need sound to hear the cries, it’s all in the eyes.
One of other most famous martyrs in history who was killed because of their faith is the French icon Joan of Arc. Her story has been adapted to screen many times, but Dreyer's silent masterpiece captures the most powerful emotion in the face of Maria Falconetti with one of the most expressive faces in cinema history. Dreyer's film portrays the injustice and bureaucratic pride of the Church opposing an innocent soul, defying a whole court out of the sheer strength in God. You don't need sound to hear the cries, it’s all in the eyes.

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

For a film about Jesus, this sparked the most un-Christian reaction from the Church when originally released, and while Last Temptation is not directly adapted from the Gospels, it attempts to examine the complex nature of Christ as a human and divine being. For a Martin Scorsese picture it is not his sharpest work, with most of the disciples unable to hide their New York accents. Scorsese plays up the maddening presence of Jesus whose teaching seems absurd and threatening, and Willem Dafoe’s psychologically tormented performance as Christ is free to explore the doubts and desires that Jesus experienced in a very real and human way. The film is still triumphant as it ultimately approves his victory over temptation and recognises that if we hold onto him we can do the same.
For a film about Jesus, this sparked the most un-Christian reaction from the Church when originally released, and while Last Temptation is not directly adapted from the Gospels, it attempts to examine the complex nature of Christ as a human and divine being. For a Martin Scorsese picture it is not his sharpest work, with most of the disciples unable to hide their New York accents. Scorsese plays up the maddening presence of Jesus whose teaching seems absurd and threatening, and Willem Dafoe’s psychologically tormented performance as Christ is free to explore the doubts and desires that Jesus experienced in a very real and human way. The film is still triumphant as it ultimately approves his victory over temptation and recognises that if we hold onto him we can do the same.

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