I finally saw Agora a couple of weeks ago when it was released on DVD and it definitely made me very emotional and physically upset when the credits rolled. I think there are legitimate criticisms that can be made about where the plot is lacking (like the under-developed love story aspect) but it was such a dramatic look at the religious strife that existed in that era that Christians have been so willing to overlook in their own history.
10.Princess Mononoke: Not only is Miyazakis animation extraordinary, but the story is a powerful tale of environmental abuse, disaster, and valiant honor. Land spirits, animal spirits, and various Gods figure prominently throughout the film and we see what happens when mankind falls out of balance with them. I dont know, however, that this movie is appropriate for small children as it is a fairly violent and bloody. For little kids, Id recommend My Neighbor Totoro instead, because it is a much more gentle story that also shows how one can have a healthy relationship with nature spirits, in fact, I was seriously torn in trying to choose which of these two Miyazaki films I prefer! Little kids might also enjoy Brother Bear by Disney, which shows a Native culture, respect for land and animal spirits, and the interconnectedness of life. Please note that a mother bear is killed in this movie, which might be hard for very small children to cope with. I would have placed these movies higher, save that I really have to be in the mood for animation.
re: Lion KingWhat Gorm Sionnach said. It didnt promote Christian values so it was somehow anti Christian.
Kauko, did your teacher say why Princess Mononoke perfectly summed up Japanese culture? Id be curious.
(Had never heard of the movie before reading this list, so thanks for the rec!)
The other reason I can thin of is a bit esoteric, and turned out to be one of those urban myths which was arguably true. In the sequence where Adult Simba just finishing yelling at his father, he flops down onto some plants, which send up a cloud of seeds. Later on, Rafiki recognizes Simbas scent, and the story progresses. During this scene however, if one pauses the frame at the right moment, the word SEX is (clearly) visible. Id suggest going over to , they have a gif of the frames in question. I would only add that I tend towards this being true, rather than a subjective inference, because there are other examples of Disneys animators inserting such subversive content. Of course many have taken these small acts of rebellion/ inside jokes by animators or editors as being some sort of conspiracy by Disney itself to corrupt the children or some such nonsense.
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Anyway, there are my top ten. There are a handful of other movies that I occasionally point people too, and of course Ive omitted all the movies like Chocolat, Woman on Top, The Mistress of Spices, and Like Water For Chocolate that have to do with magic and food. But take it for what its worth: a nice post-Samhain diversion. Id love to hear from readers about some of your own favorite Pagan/Heathen movies.
It looks like Eye of the Devil is now available to preorder on DVD on m:
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I did like Mists of Avalon, but only the first part. After that, in both the book and the movie, Morgana pisses me off.
6.The Deceivers: I adore this movie, partly because I love Kali immensely, and partly because its just a really good film. The film centers around a man, coming from 19thcentury British imperialism, who is thrust into the world of the Thugee, assassins who killed in Kalis name (there is historical evidence for their existencethe movie is loosely based on real events). By the end of the movie, Kali has used him to purge these assassins and has destroyed his life, burning within him in a way that ensures he will never, ever be able to go back to who he was. Its beautifully filmed (what Merchant Ivory film isnt beautifully done?) and really highlights the clash of cultures: both the British and indigenous Indian, as well as the Thuggee culture, which thrives on the secrecy of its existence, with the greater indigenous one. Mostly I like it because Kali overshadows all the action!
Thus ends my mildly pointless digression.
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Personally, I find Nausicaa a better film than Mononoke, because in some ways its more subtle. Plus, Nausicaa is more likable (IMO) than Ashitaka.
Ok, I usually dont write about topics like this, but over the past week half a dozen people have asked me about my favorite Pagan movies. Maybe they wore me down because I woke up this morning with the thought that I should put a little article together on my top ten so that others could enjoy them too. Now, when people ask me about my favorite Pagan themed movies, I can point them to this!
5.Sorceress: (the 1987 French film directed by Suzanne Schiffman). I have not seen this film in a good ten years, and I only just realized it was available on dvd. Despite only having watched it once, all those years ago, it remains in my memory as a powerful film (very much in the same vein as The Anchoress in some ways) that poignantly highlights the conflict between folk practices that very likely survived from indigenous Pagan beliefs and what was then the new Christianity. Here that conflict is dramatized in the persons of a Dominican friar on the hunt for heresy and a simple village herb woman who barely manages to escape paying for his sins with her life (and trust me, that comment will make a lot more sense once youve seen the film!).
I highly recommend getting any Miyazaki movies you can get your hands on. Not only are they gorgeous, but there is tons of Japanese Paganism/Shinto in all of them. One of his kids movies Kikis Delivery Service is all about a young witch!
I also like Pagan movies! For searching them I basically use i found Eye of the Devil, by the way!
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What excuse did your sister give for having Lion King banned? (ok, it has a shaman and ancestor veneration throughout, and environmentalism but im curious what she actually picked up on).G
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On Agora, I agree about the romantic part not even needing to be in the movie. Unfortunately, it seemed like they tried to hang the plot on it to some degree and it wasnt strong enough to really hold it all together.
8. DisneysThe Lion King: Why do I class this as a Pagan/Heathen friendly movie? Primarily I do so because so much of the film deals with interconnectedness to the natural world, and moreover with ancestor veneration. We even have a shaman figure. Theres a fine thread of reverence and respect for the ancestors running throughout this film and moreover, when that balance is upset, when that thread is broken by neglect for tradition and the natural order of things, it shows the devastation (in the form of famine and drought) that may ensue. Plus, its especially nice in that its one you can watch with your kids. Thats not the case with many of my favorite Pagan/Heathen movies!
Unusually for pagans, apparently, I really didnt likeAgora. My more-or-less full review of it is here:
This isnt my complete list, folks. There are other movies that I think are useful for Pagans and Heathens too, but these are, right now at least, my top ten favorites. These are the films that I watch and think yeah, I get that. That speaks to my own spiritual worldview in some way or wowwe could learn from that. That makes me think. Ive specifically included a few that are more or less appropriate for children too.
Don you have netflix? I can find almost anything on Netflix and for the small price its a ton of fun and you may find more movies for this topic.
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Now I want to watch Princess Mononoke again, its been awhile since Ive seen it and its a perfect cold, cloudy movie-watching day here. I remember my Japanese teacher in college, years ago, saying that Princess Mononoke perfectly sums up all of Japanese culture, which I always found an intriguing take on the movie. Ill also second Gorm_Sionnachs recommendation of Spirited Away which is arguably Miyazakis masterpiece.
I havent seen the Blue Butterfly but will check it out. Im always on the lookout for more good movies. 🙂 thanks for the recommendation.
thanks for the suggestion for Secret of Kells. havent seen that yet either.
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And, I also enjoyedThe Sorceressvery much indeed. Its based on Etienne de Bourbons actual treatise on the cult of St. Guignefort, though the role of Elda and the drama of the film is all invented; however, the ritual with the child, and the beliefs about Guignefort as a greyhound and saint, are 100% based on Etiennes treatise (which certainly describes a pagan survival/barely Christianized set of beliefs, most likely from a Celtic background).
iM SO glad they did not emphase the romantic crap in Agora. Aside from the scene where Hypatia gives an admirer a cloth stained with her menstrual blood to discourage him (which is based on actual accounts), theres no historical basis for the would-be romance. I also believe Davus is a completely fictional character.
Sacred kingship is very important to me, so Im definitely going to try to find Eye of the Devil.
9.The 13thWarrior:I know, I know, but I liked the film so sue me! I cant place it higher if only because the weaponry is so incredibly inaccurate and anachronistic, but I found it entertaining to the extreme, and very indicative of good Heathen virtues. This movie is a retelling of Michael Crichtons The Eaters of the Dead, which itself, is a modern adaptation, more or less, of parts of Beowulf. The Heathens elements are even more glaring in the book, where you have a definite parallel between Buliwif and Odin more clearly drawn. In the movie, you have a leader who exemplifies the good leader described in the Havamal: a brilliant man who keeps silent, observes everything, misses nothing, and gains fame through his valor. There are two gorgeous prayers in the movie, one given by a Muslim and one by the Heathen war party and all in all, its immensely enjoyable so long as youre not expecting historical accuracy.
I loved the portrayal of paganism in The Wicker Man like you, I only like the OLD one, and the Soundtrack is awesome but I dont know that I like the murder as being such a visible conclusion of the practice of paganism, if that makes sense.Practical Magic was fun, though lite, entertainment of a pagan bent.
The only thing I really disagreed with was the way Synesias was portrayed. He adored Hypatia and remained her supporter throughout her life. Still, immensely powerful film.
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Interesting. I hadnt thought of The Lion King but my sister was just proudly telling me how she got it banned from her churchs library so you might be on to something.Eye of the Devil appears to be available for torrent downloads. I have found Pirate Bay indespensible lately for finding weird old and foreign movies unavailable in the US.
I can think of a couple of reasons. Many seem to dislike Disney, or their general message of inclusiveness (debatable depending on the era), and since many Christians dislike any stories not overtly spreading the good news, could have something to do with it.
Excellent choice on the animated selections, with the exception of Brother Bear (more of a quality issue than plot, but I digress).
4,The Anchoress: This movie was initially recommended to me because I have an interest in medieval female mystics but upon watching it, as a Heathen mystic, I found it positively haunting. It focuses around an anchoress (no surprise there), a young girl who, upon receiving visions from/of the Virgin Mary, commits to walling herself up in a small cubicle attached to a church, to live out her life in prayer. Problems arise when her visions threaten the Church conception of female piety, hearkening in their symbolism more to Pagan Goddesses than the authorized images of the Virgin. It highlights how experiential spirituality, mystics in particular often challenge the prevailing orthodoxy, which is sadly all too often based more on egotism than on either spirituality or experience. Its an introspective movie, and some may be put off by the fact that its filmed in black and white, but I think its worth watching.
7.Arranged: This is not a Heathen or a Pagan movie, but Ive put it on this list because I think that we can draw a lot of inspiration from it. Star Foster initially recommended this film and I found it enchanting. It tells the story of two public school teachers: one a devout Muslim woman, the other orthodox Jewish, who become friends. Theyre both trying to find a husband by going through the traditional match-making methods common to their religions and cultures and the twists and turns they go through are hilarious and poignant. (Dont worry, theres a happy ending for both, folks). Where I find the movie particularly relevant to Heathens and Pagans, is that it clearly shows the struggles of two very contemporary, intelligent, and independent women to live their faiths in a world that is often diametrically opposed to piety and devotion of any sort. There is a particularly powerful scene toward the end of the film where the principle of the school chides the Jewish teacher, because a student draws a parallel between some of her folk practices and his own Afro-Caribbean ones. One clearly sees traditional religious practices being dismissed as nonsense by those in charge and watching these two women rise above that and hold true to their own path and piety is something from which I think we can all draw a powerful lesson.
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Gorm_Sionnach, I agree with you about Brother Bear re. quality. Still, I think kids might like it. I havent had a chance yet to watch Spirited Away, or it probably would have made the cut! Ive heard only good things about it.
Another thing Ive remembered about Princess Mononoke that I have to mention 🙂 : it has one of the better soundtracks Ive heard. The main theme in particular (The Legend of Ashitaka) gives me chills when I hear it. Theres also the Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite available which condenses the best of the movies music down to 6 tracks or so, newly arranged by the composer Joe Hisaishi and performed by a European orchestra (dont remember which one). Its definitely worth getting if you love the movie and are a fan of orchestral music.
century and ousted its Christian ministers. Theyve been living according to Pagan customs and religious beliefs since. Now, their crops are failing and their sacrifices of produce and animals up to this point havent been accepted by the Gods and they find they require a special type of sacrifice. I read somewhere, in some article about this movie, that producers originally intended to include one final image after the credits: of the apple orchards and fields in full flower, but that this was cut ostensibly because it would have been too shocking a conclusion. Pity.
I would heartily recommendThe Secret of Kells, for a variety of reasons (some of which I included in my comments on Stars recent entry on this blog about the film).
P.S. The Alfarblot went really, really well.
3.Eye of the Devil: (with David Niven). I wish this movie were available on vhs or dvd, I really do but so far, I havent been able to find it. Originally billed as a horror movie, it is one of the most moving portrayals of sacral kingship and a lord laying his life down for the fertility of the land and the good of his people that I have ever encountered in contemporary writing or cinema. The Pagan symbolism abounds throughout the film and while the female lead isimmenselyannoying, and one does have to contend with occasional minor attempts to make the movie frightening, overall, I found it intensely powerful. The story line is fairly simple: in 1950s, a nobleman takes his wife and two children back to his ancestral home, the big castle overlooking a village. He doesnt tell her why theyre making this journey but it turns out that there has been a massive drought for several years, nothing is helping and the villagers are suffering. So he is returning to make a sacrifice that his ancestors would well have understood: to give his life so that the land may be made fruitful again, because he is bound as a noble to protect those people under his care. The final sequence where this man rides through the village on a white horse and these modern villagers bow to him in reverence, right before he gives his life, is one of the most powerfully moving Ive seen in any film. If you can find this one, folks, dont pass it up.
🙂 Mist of Avalon
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Hi Quimbob, I am really holding out for Eye of the Devil on dvd. I dont like watching movies online. Im a bit of a luddite. 🙂 (and too cheap to update my system!)
And while not overtly Pagan, The Secret of Kells, is, true to form of much of Irish myth: a blend of pre-Christian elements and some of the better aspects of Christianity.
As for The 13th Warrior, its a favorite of mine and LM.
I remember watching The Lion King for the first time and being startled and thrilled by Rafiki blessing Simba in the opening.
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2.Agora: This is a new film, only released on dvd this week, that is based on the life (and more importantly the deathPagans might say martyrdom) of the philosopher Hypatia. Its a brilliant film but I found it immensely difficult to watch. Nearly every Pagan Ive heard from whos seen this film has had a similar response. Personally, I cant say that I came away from viewing this full of ecumenical feelings toward Christianity or indeed any monotheism. I came away immensely sad and very angry. In the movie, the viewer is thrust into the Alexandria of 391 C.E, into the midst of what amounts to a religious war. Hypatia, a renowned philosopher, becomes a victim of that war. Some liberties are taken with her story, including presenting her as more or less an atheist, which I do not believe was historically accurate. She was a Pagan. Still, its a wrenching film and one that made me take note of all those Pagans and Heathens who died upholding their beliefs, practicing their faith, living their lives.because they refused to bow their heads the new faith (and the destruction of their indigenous religions which it brought). An in depth review of this film, by a Hellenic Pagan, can be found here:
Another good Miyazaki film for kids (and just about anyone) would be Spirited Away, the most overt homage to Shintoism Studio Ghibli has made to date.
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I liked one called THE BLUE BUTTERFLY although it is not about paganism, it still resonated a strong LIKE with me. Its based a true story that has alot of nature and magick going on.
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I have to admit, I didnt have a problem with the death in Wicker Man, but I know other Pagans and Heathens who have and who dislike the movie on that account. My feeling is that, as a fictional character, he was given every chance to save himself. I figure it was almost poetic justice. LOL But then im a bit more bloodthirsty than the average person I suspect. heh.
Unfortunately, I dont remember any more about why my Japanese teacher thought that, it just stuck with me that she said it and not the reasons why (this was 10 or 11 years ago) 🙁
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Definitely Agora!Im not sure if it could count as movie or not,as it was a tv series, but I watched it like a movie- but the Mists of Avalon is one of my favorites.
@Kristi: I didnt put this on my list because its not a movie per se, but i like the Avatar: the Last Airbender animated series (NOT the movie, which sucked beyond belief). My only quibble is that it was a bit too pacifistic, but given that its a kids show on Nikolodean, I suspect that was necessary. But except for that, I found it very Pagan friendly.
I will miss you and your posts SO MUCH, Star. You are amazing.
the original. For me, this is the gold standard of Pagan/Heathen movies. Let me note that I am referring *only* to the original version with Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, not the horrific remake that recently came out with Nicholas Cage. The original Wicker Man is a story about sacrifice and renewal, about Pagan and Christian theological differences, and about sacral kingship. That being said, its a really good movie just in its own right. In the film, a fundamentalist Christian police officer is lured by trickery to an island known for having some unusual customs and beliefs. It turns out, that this island reverted to its indigenous Paganism in the late 19