Here is a very preliminary list of films and television shows featuring Pentecostal or Charismatic Christianity. In terms of what qualified, I included films that explicitly mention Pentecostalism, and films which include speaking in tongues, snake handling, faith healing, or other ecstatic religious activity in an Evangelical Christian context. As a result, some of the films may have only a very tenuous relationship to Pentecostalism (something which I will address in individual reviews as I write them). I included only those documentaries which have had a widespread release. The Television section is extremely underdeveloped at this stage. I welcome any suggested additions that anyone might have. Thanks to David Henson for sharing his dissertation on Pentecostals in film, which provided several additions to this list.
Feature Films
Alambrista! (1977)
The Apostle (1997)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
The Campaign (2012)
Cape Fear (1991)
Elmer Gantry (1960)
Higher Ground (2011)
I'm Not There. (2007)
Leap of Faith (1992)
Paradise Recovered (2010)
Rachel, Rachel (1968)
Screen Door Jesus (2003)
Spitfire (1934)
Tarnished Angel (1938)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
The Visitation (2006)
Selected Documentary Films
Audience of One (2007)
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Holy Ghost People (1967)
Jesus Camp (2006)
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)
Marjoe (1972)
Religulous (2008)
Television
Justified, Season 4 (FX, 2013)
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (BBC, 1990)
The Simpsons, "Homer the Heretic" (Fox, 1992)
South Park, "Probably" (Comedy Central, 2010)
X-Files, "Signs and Wonders" (Fox, 2000)
I would not classify Borat as a documentary...
ReplyDeleteIt is a difficult film to classify, I agree. It is more of a mockumentary, since the central character and his story are fictional. At the same time, most of the people in the film are (supposedly) not acting. As a result, it is sort of in between genres. I decided to group it with the documentaries because I think it has more in common with Religulous then, say, The Apostle.
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