Actress Juliette Binoche Acclaims Saint Paisios the Athonite and Byzantine Iconography In Award Speech

The 65th Thessaloniki Film Festival welcomed two of the most prolific stars of contemporary cinema, Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes, on Friday, November 1st 2024, at the Olympion theater. The two renowned actors received the Festival’s honorary Golden Alexander award prior to the screening of the monumental film The English Patient (1996), which marked their second collaboration (their first was in 1992's Wuthering Heights) and garnered Juliette Binoche an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and Ralph Fiennes a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The thank you speech of Juliette Binoche was particularly interesting for Greek Orthodox Christians, because she opened with the following words:

"Your skies and seas are an inspiration in my life - in our lives. Your words and thoughts through Sophocles, Homer, the great philosophers and the saints, especially Saint Paisios, are feeding my path and heart. Thank you for what you give to the world (applause). I had the most amazing day today in Thessaloniki (applause). Visiting your monasteries, walking in your streets, feeling your stones and trees and eating your bread, fish and vegetables and admiring your Byzantine Treasures, like icons. What a beautiful journey!"

 

A few years ago in Greece a former MP Petros Tatsopoulos caused a major uproar when he publicly mocked a Greek tv series based on the life of Saint Paisios the Athonite as a work of fiction, since it portrays him working miracles and having visions, which he does not believe in, and he criticized such depictions as keeping Greeks in the Middle Ages. Now, just a few days ago, a renowned foreign actress from France received a prestigious award in Greece, and not only acclaimed Saint Paisios, but put him and other Orthodox Christian saints in succession with Sophocles and Homer, and with them spoke of her admiration for the monasteries of Thessaloniki and the treasures of Byzantium, especially its iconography. Essentially she sees the ancient Greek spirit and Orthodox Christianity are an unbroken historical continuity that proclaims the greatness of Greece to the world. And this isn't just an ordinary actress saying this, but Juliette Binoche is the first actress to win the European "Best Actress Triple Crown" (winning the Best Actress awards at the Berlin, Cannes & Venice film festivals), as well as the previously mentioned Academy Award, among many others.

Movie: "Saint Chryse - A Ray of Light in the Years of Slavery" (2023)

Saint Chryse - A Ray of Light in the Years of Slavery

Directed by Nikos Katsoulis

Produced by the Metropolis of Edessa, Pella and Almopia

Released in 2023

In Greek with English subtitles

"Saint Chryse - A Ray of Light in the Years of Slavery" is the true story of the martyrdom of Saint Chryse, a young girl who lived in Slatena, Almopia (present-day village of "Chryse") in the late 18th century.

The plot of the movie takes place in 1795, in the village of Slatena. It is winter, so the young Chryse, a devout Orthodox Christian, goes to get firewood. Chryse is abducted by a local Muslim man who is infatuated with her. The young woman endures terrible suffering over the following nine months. She consistently undergoes physical and mental abuse since she won't accept Islam and wed her kidnapper. On October 13, 1795, she is horrifyingly murdered for her refusal to compromise her faith in Christ.

Movie: "Men of Anjolos" (1997) - An Islamic Movie on the Life of the Seven Youths of Ephesus

The Men of Anjolos (Persian: مردان آنجلس Mardān-e Ānjelos), also known as The Companions of the Cave (Persian: اصحاب کهف Ashāb-e Kahf), is a 1997 Iranian television series directed by Farajollah Salahshoor. It depicts the Islamic version of the story of the Seven Sleepers (mentioned in Surah al-Kahf of the Koran), which according to Islamic tradition took place in Jordan, not Ephesus as in the Christian version of the story.

Jesus in Film Resource Page

  

 

On Religious Cinema 

 

Popular Depictions of Jesus On Screen 

 

Movie Review: "The Passion" (1898)

 

Movie Review: "The Birth, the Life and the Death of Christ" (1906)

 

Movie Review: "Star of Bethlehem" (1909)

 

Movie Review: "From the Manger to the Cross"; a.k.a. "Jesus of Nazareth" (1912)  

 

Movie Review: "Intolerance" (1916)

 

Movie Review: "The King of Kings" (1927)  

Movie Review: "Golgotha"; a.k.a. "Behold the Man" (1935)

 

Movie Review: "The Robe" (1953)

 

Movie Review: "Ben-Hur" (1959)

 

From Ben-Hur to the Fall of Constantinople: Lew Wallace, Faith, and the Limits of Historical Imagination 

 

Movie Review: "King of Kings" (1961)  

 

Movie Review: "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1973)

 

Movie Review: "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988)

Movie Review: "Risen" (2016)

 

Movie Review: "The Girl Who Believes in Miracles" (2021) with a special mention of "The Unholy" (2021)

 

Movie Review: "The Last Supper" (2025)

 

Movie Review: "The King of Kings" (2025)

 

Robert Powell and His Portrayal of Jesus  

Deleted Resurrection Scene From the Movie "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977)

"The Passion of the Christ": An Orthodox Perspective

A Shocking Movie Scene With a Tangible Reality

 

By Metropolitan Prodromos of Toliara and South Madagascar

I have loved cinema since I was a child. Those two hours of images and sounds, moments, special effects, profound thoughts that sweat to capture intangible nature through images. Screenplays and books that dared to elevate art for art's sake, or art for profit's sake, or both. I can say that I have seen a huge number of movies, so many that if the hours I spent in front of screens equaled that spent in prayer I would already be in Abraham's Bosom.

The Russian Orthodoxy of Natalie Wood

By John Sanidopoulos

I thought I would explore an aspect of the life of Natalie Wood little talked about together - her ethnicity and religion. Too often when the name Natalie Wood is mentioned, immediate focus is on her tragic death. For fans like me, however, my thoughts immediately go to her fascinating life and brilliant work. The focus on her death has unfortunately blurred deeper explorations of her life, making it difficult to uncover and decipher the truth about the stories of her personal life, especially something so personal as her religion. As I write this, I can't say I have all the answers. In fact, I think at this time I am only able to scratch the surface. Don't expect too many details below, so consider this a beginning to an exploration I plan to continue and expand upon as my knowledge of her increases.

The Good Guy/Bad Guy Myth

The Good Guy/Bad Guy Myth

Pop culture today is obsessed with the battle between good and evil. Traditional folktales never were. What changed?

Catherine Nichols

January 25, 2018

Aeon

The first time we see Darth Vader doing more than heavy breathing in Star Wars (1977), he’s strangling a man to death. A few scenes later, he’s blowing up a planet. He kills his subordinates, chokes people with his mind, does all kinds of things a good guy would never do. But then the nature of a bad guy is that he does things a good guy would never do. Good guys don’t just fight for personal gain: they fight for what’s right – their values.

Christmas Stories Resource Page: Literature, Film and Television

 

Charles Dickens 

 

G.K. Chesterton's Biography "Charles Dickens" (1906)  

 

Charles Dickens and Christianity 

 

25 Worthwhile Quotes From Charles Dickens 

 

"A Christmas Carol" (1971 - Animation) 

 

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" as a Reimagining of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

   

Charles Dickens, Marley's Chain and Theophylact of Ochrid

Marley's Bowels of Compassion (or Lack Thereof)

The Reception of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in Greece

Charles Dickens' "The Cricket on the Hearth"

Saint Porphyrios and the Visit of Divine Grace Before Christmas: A True Testimony Similar to "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl"

Russian Tales 

  

The Beggar Boy at Christ's Christmas Tree (Feodor Dostoevsky) 

 

Nikolai Gogol's "The Night Before Christmas" (1951 - Animation) 

 

Leo Tolstoy's "Papa Panov's Special Christmas" (animation)

 

The Geese in a Blizzard: A Russian Christmas Parable 

 

Russian Cartoon: "The Christmas Visit" (1959)

Greek Tales

Christmas in Greek Literature

Christ at the Castle: Papadiamantis’ Tale Captures the Genuine Spirit of Christmas

"The Gleaner: A Christmas Story" by Alexandros Papadiamantis

"The Slacker's Christmas" (Alexandros Papadiamantis)

"The Christmas Bread" (Alexandros Papadiamantis)

"The Cantankerous Man": A Christmas Story by Alexandros Moraitidis

"John the Blessed": A New Year's Eve Tale by Photios Kontoglou

"All-Bright Theophany": A Short Story by Alexandros Papadiamantis


Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince"


Henry van Dyke

"The Story of the Other Wise Man" (1989 - Animation)

Movie: "The Fourth Wise Man" (1985)


O. Henry

O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"


Silent Films

"Massacre of the Innocents" (a silent film from the 1910's)

Silent Movie: "The Flight Into Egypt" (1903)

 

 

Movies 

 

Short Film: "Christmas Anti-Fable" (2017)

 

The Fundamentalism of “Political Correctness”

 

 

"It's A Wonderful Life" 

 

The Story Behind "It's A Wonderful Life" 

 

How Frank Capra's Christian Faith Influenced His Films 

 

 

Films About Jesus 

 

Popular Depictions of Jesus On Screen 

 

Robert Powell and His Portrayal of Jesus 

 

"The Passion of the Christ": An Orthodox Perspective

Byzanfest 2019: An Orthodox Christian Online Short Film Festival

Established in 2014, Byzanfest is the world’s first and only online festival that screens short-films made by Eastern Orthodox Christian filmmakers. The Festival will go live from Sunday 21st July until 4th August 2019, running concurrently with live venue screenings which are hosted by Global Screening Partners.

As the world’s media and entertainment have become increasingly on-demand and interwoven with social media, Byzanfest saw the opportunity to venture into an emerging concept: the online festival. New and innovative, such an event is not limited by the physical constraints of traditional venue-based festivals. Byzanfest looked ahead towards the future of entertainment and wanted to engage globally with both Orthodox and non-Orthodox audiences. The Festival encourages interactivity where viewers can share through all social media platforms. The Festival showcases films which reflect Orthodox Christian themes, beliefs, culture and values, as well as being artistically creative. It is worth mentioning all funds raised from this Festival will go towards funding small individual Orthodox film and art projects.

Movie: "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days " (2005)

Since today is the feast of Saint Alexander Schmorell (July 13), a fellow member and martyr with Sophia Scholl of the German anti-Nazi resistance movement known as the White Rose, I thought it would be appropriate to watch the 2005 German film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days directed by Marc Rothemund. Alexander Schmorell is also portrayed in the film.

"L'Agonie De Byzance" or "The Agony of Byzantium" (A 1913 Film About the Fall of Constantinople)

L'Agonie de Byzance or The Agony of Byzantium is a 1913 production that is counted as one of the best French films of the silent era. Made on the eve of World War I, it is an ambitious and lavish depiction of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in the mid-15th century. The task of directing this mammoth production (even though the film runs to just 30 minutes, it counts as a superproduction for its time) went to Gaumont's (a major French film studio) most prolific director, Louis Feuillade.

Where L'Agonie de Byzance distinguishes itself most is with its impressively staged battle scenes, which are among the most ambitious depicted in cinema up until this time. Even though the camera is rigidly static and most scenes consist of long takes with minimal editing, there is a dynamic quality to the action sequences that really does convey a sense of the fury and frenzy of battle. The static set-up actually works to the film's advantage, making the spectator feel that he is standing on the periphery of the drama, watching history unfold from a privileged vantage point. It only falls down in the scene where the hoards swarming towards the camera end up having to split into two, taking a left or right turn to avoid crashing into an very expensive piece of filmmaking apparatus.

The quality of the set and costume design is also worth commenting on, since this is the most obvious sign of Gaumont's commitment to raising the bar by several furlongs. Although there are a few scenes where Feuillade had to make do with what is obviously a painted backdrop, most of the sets are remarkably solid and detailed, with false perspective used to great effect in several scenes. For a film that was entirely shot in the studio, L'Agonie de Byzance has a surprising realism about it that is rarely found in historical films of this time - you could easily think that at least part of it was filmed on location. Such is the visual impact of some scenes - for example, the one in which an army of sword-waving Ottomans surge through the city gates - that you can favourably compare them with what we find in more recent films, such as Kurosawa's Samurai films. L'Agonie de Byzance is shameless spectacle all the way, one of Louis Feuillade's main achievements.

Below is the French and English versions of the film:

"Massacre of the Innocents" (a silent film from the 1910's)

Silent Film: "Salome" (1910)

This 1910 Italian film Salome is a rather crude 9-minute silent drama directed by Ugo Falena which claims to be based on Oscar Wilde’s play of the same name. I’m not sure Wilde would have appreciated them for cramming his wordy opus into a few brief scenes of gesticulating performances. The colors are a bonus, however, as this is hand-tinted throughout. Some of the music could have been better chosen.

Nine Movies For Holy Week

Last year, I was asked to compile a list of movies for each day of Holy Week for a friend of mine. I told him I could do that, but none would be a movie straight from the Bible, as I tend to not find those very inspirational nor are they done well, especially the more modern productions. He agreed, and the list below is what I came up with. I re-watched them all, too, and thought this year to share with everyone else. Personally, I think it is a good list, though many other movies can be added. I replaced one movie from last year's list, because I told him that every Holy Saturday, before the midnight service, I had a tradition of going to the movies at the theater, to make sure I kept awake, so I added a movie that can only be seen in the theaters this year, which I think is the best of the bunch of faith-based films. Not wanting to only have older films on the list, I also added a few newer ones. I tend to not like the newer faith-based films, but the other one I chose is my second favorite one of the newer ones. Most of the others are classics that most have seen, but should be re-watched in the context of Holy Week, if you watch any movies during Holy Week. Most of these can be found somewhere online or streaming or On Demand. Enjoy!

My Top Ten Best Movie Experiences

Since I have yet to see all the movies I wanted to see to select my picks for best films of the year for 2017, I wanted to compile another post based on a conversation I overheard a few weeks ago around Christmas time. While waiting for a movie to start in the theater, as I arrived about 25 minutes early, four ladies who must have been about college age in their early twenties sat in the seats directly in front of me, and for about 15 minutes were debating back and forth on whether or not it was better to watch movies at home or in a theater. Now for me personally there is no debate: it is pretty much always better to see a movie in a theater rather than at home. Seeing that we were the only people in the theater, and in such a close proximity, I decided to get in on this conversation by telling them a story of a great experience I had watching a movie in that very theater almost 20 years ago (which was probably when they were born), which could not have been experienced at all the same way if I had seen it at home. To this I added that it was my personal belief that all movies, if possible, should only be experienced in a theater, as they were meant to be seen, and only under extreme conditions should watching a movie at home instead of a theater be preferred (such as being sick, lack of a decent theater, weather conditions or lack of money). Plus many movies are meant to be experienced communally, and when they are seen alone at home much of their effect is lost; the same is true to the fact that many movies are best seen only on opening weekend.

Dr. Jekyll and His Conscience

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

By Robert Louis Stevenson

"In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be we are."

How the Forgotten Byzantine Empire Rescued Turkish Cinema

Emrah Güler

January 18, 2016

Hurriyet Daily News

Trust Turkish filmmakers to resurrect the Byzantine Empire to play the much-needed enemy once every decade. Satirist and writer Gani Müjde returns to directing, satirizing where he feels at home, the depiction of Byzantines in Turkish cinema. Müjde’s “Bizans Oyunları: Geym of Bizans” (Byzantine Games: Game of Byzantine), released this week, pokes fun at the historical-action films from the 1950s to the 1970s which established the Byzantines as the ultimate enemy, a uniquely fictitious empire save its name.

Movie: "Anthropoid" (2016)

Directed by Sean Ellis
Produced by Sean Ellis
Written by Sean Ellis

Starring:
Cillian Murphy
Jamie Dornan
Charlotte Le Bon
Anna Geislerová

Release date: 1 July 2016
Running time: 120 minutes
Language: English

Anthropoid is a 2016 British epic war film that tells the story of Operation Anthropoid, the World War II assassination of Reinhard Heydrich by Exile Czechoslovak soldiers on 27 May 1942.

The film was shot entirely in Prague, and where possible, at the actual locations of the events they depict. Director Sean Ellis stated in interview that scenes in the Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius were filmed on an exact replica of the church on a studio backlot, so as to make the location recognizable to Czech viewers. Gestapo and Czech contemporary reports allowed Ellis to recreate the film's final act (the assassination and church siege) with extreme accuracy, and the film has garnered praise for its commitment to realism and true events. Intense planning was necessary to allow for the assassination itself to play in real time, with each resistance member's movements researched, planned and tracked in order to reflect actual events.

The film can currently be viewed On Demand and is free to subscribers of Amazon Prime.

Read also:

The Incredible True Story Behind World War Two Film 'Anthropoid'

Holy New Hieromartyr Gorazd of Prague, Bishop of Moravia and Silesia (+ 1942)

A Prague Church That Defied Nazi Rule

The Feast of St. Gerasimos in 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin'

Movie Trailer: "The Student" (2016)

The Student (Russian: Ученик, translit. Uchenik) is a 2016 Russian drama film directed by Kirill Serebrennikov. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival where it won the François Chalais Prize.

The plot revolves around a young man who has become a religious fanatic whose behavior gradually has an impact on his environment and the whole school which eventually leads to disaster.