A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Cartoon by Bill Melendez, based on the famous comic strip "Peanuts". The premiere took place on December 8, 1965.
The script for the cartoon was written in just a few weeks, and it was animated in six months on a very meager budget. During the casting, the producers chose an unconventional path and invited child actors to do the voice acting. The musical accompaniment was also unusual for that time - jazz compositions by pianist Vince Haroldi. Due to the lack of voice-over laughter, as well as due to the peculiar atmosphere, rhythm, music and animation, the producers predicted failure of the cartoon. Despite this, A Charlie Brown Christmas received high ratings and critical praise. He won an Emmy and a Peabody Award. In the United States, broadcasting the cartoon has become an annual tradition since its premiere. His jazz soundtrack also brought in considerable income - 4 million copies were sold in the United States.
Jesus, 1979
The film shows the life of Christ according to the Gospel of Luke.
Renowned director Jon Heyman had a pretty good reason for taking on the film adaptation of biblical stories. His goal was to convey the Message of Jesus as accurately as possible, which would portray 1st century Palestine as accurately as possible.
After a painstaking preparatory period, the director decided that the Gospel of Luke would be the best basis for constructing the plot.
By the way, before him, none of the filmmakers had undertaken to bring this particular description of the life of Jesus . According to Heyman, Luke had many undoubted advantages. First, he took the details seriously enough (as the apostle lists the social and cultural characteristics of the time), so his words deserve more credibility from a historical point of view. But, most importantly, Luke provides the most complete description of the ministry of Jesus Christ and quite clearly sets out the very essence of His teaching.
"The Polar Express", 2004
The main character of the film is a little boy who has lost his faith in Santa Claus. But on Christmas Eve 1956, he will have an amazing opportunity to go to the North Pole and meet the well-known good old man. Late in the evening, the Polar Express, a train heading straight north, stops right next to his house. The good-natured conductor invites the boy to become a passenger on this train and go on an amazing journey towards magic. At first, the hero of the film refuses, but soon changes his mind and joins the rest of the passengers.
Gospel of Matthew, 1964
“The Gospel of Matthew” was filmed by the famous Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini. The creator of the film offers a look at the biblical narrative of the life of Christ from a Marxist-Catholic point of view.
This film caused a storm of criticism from religious communities and ordinary believers around the world, and to this day it is one of the most famous historical works.
"The Little Matchgirl" (2006)
A short animated film released by Walt Disney Studios based on the fairy tale by H. C. Andersen “The Little Match Girl.” The cartoon was nominated for an Oscar in 2007 among short cartoons.
St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century. A small, poor, homeless and hungry girl is trying to sell matches to passers-by. But people are like blank walls - no one pays attention to the poor girl. The girl looks around - everyone is rushing about their business. Other children, from rich families, leave the toy store with their parents - something our girl can only dream about. This is a sad but true story.
The Last Temptation of Christ, 1988
This film adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel “The Last Temptation” was directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese. The film is considered one of the most significant works in the director’s work.
The idea behind the film is to explore the duality of Jesus Christ - the divine and the human. The picture touches on very controversial topics for the religious world, which brought massive criticism on its creators from official representatives of the church and believers of different denominations of Christianity.
Here Christ is a simple carpenter from Judea. He makes money by making crosses on which state criminals are executed. He is constantly visited by voices and visions - he understands that he has been chosen for a high mission, but cannot understand what his true purpose is and who chose him: the Lord or Satan.
Trying to answer all these questions, Jesus goes on a journey with his friend Judas. He has to go through the difficult path of the Savior: he saves Mary Magdalene from cruel reprisals, visits a mythical Jewish monastery, then is baptized and blessed by John the Baptist, addresses the Sermon on the Mount to the Jewish people, retires into the desert, being exposed there to the temptations of the devil, expels merchants from the temple of God , provoking unrest in the city with his sermons about love.
As a result, Jesus understands what his true purpose is - to cleanse the human race from sins by accepting a painful death on the cross. He voluntarily asks Judas to hand him over to the authorities. Judas tries to dissuade him, but he remains firm in his decision.
After meeting the Last Supper, Judas goes to the teacher of the Roman legionaries, and they take Jesus into custody. The procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, succumbing to the will of the angry crowd, sentences Jesus to death.
Christ is crucified on the cross. At the moment of the most severe suffering, a beautiful girl appears before him, a guardian angel who calls him to follow her. She helps him come down from the cross. Next, Jesus descends into a beautiful flowering valley, where he is greeted by a wedding ceremony. He marries Mary Magdalene and they have children.
He lives a long life. His elderly disciples appear at the bed of the aged and dying Christ. They accuse the teacher of exchanging the mission of the Savior for the ordinary life of an earthly person. Judas says that the very girl who saved him was actually Satan.
Jesus with an effort shakes off the intoxication of temptation and returns to reality. He finds himself on the cross again, and a barely noticeable smile appears on his lips.
"The Guiding Star" (The Star, 2017)
A brave little donkey named Bo works at the mill, dreaming of breaking free and seeing the world. And one fine day his wish comes true! Bo sees an unusually bright star in the sky and decides to follow the path it points to. Amazing adventures await him and he will meet new friends, among whom there is a cute sheep, a joker pigeon and even a trio of camels. A motley group of travelers will become unwitting participants and witnesses of the most magical and wonderful event - Christmas.
Animated Lives of the Saints
In addition to the theme of Christmas , both Orthodox cartoons for children and films often describe the lives of the Saints, their activities, life's obstacles and difficulties, which led them to the love of God:
“Brothers” (dir. Artem Lukichev, 2011, Russia). It tells the story of the brothers Boris and Gleb. Being the sons of the Kyiv prince Vladimir, they were killed by their elder brother Svyatopolk. These are the first saints whom the Church canonized. They are revered as passion-bearers and miracle-working healers.- “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia” (dir. Nadezhda Mikhailova, 2008, Russia). A beautiful, funny short film of excellent quality about devotion, marital fidelity and love. Peter and Fevronia are revered as patrons of married life and guardians of family well-being.
- “About St. Basil the Blessed. Moscow Legend" (dir. Natalya Berezovaya, 2008, Russia). This is the story of the life of St. Basil, who was nicknamed the holy fool, because they believed that he committed madness. But with prayers and with the help of the gift of divination, the blessed one healed, protected and performed many miracles.
- “Yegory the Brave” (dir. Sergei Merinov, 2009, Russia). The story of St. George the Victorious, protector of the offended and helper in illnesses and household needs, is told in clear, funny language.
- “Reverend Seraphim of Sarov” (dir. V. Ponomarev, A. Ivakh, 2008, Russia). The story is about the life and hardships of the saint, who is now one of the most revered not only in Orthodoxy, but also in Catholicism.
- “Andrew the First-Called” (dir. V. Ponomarev, A. Ivakh, 2012, Russia). This is a biblical cartoon about the first apostle, according to the Gospel, who was a disciple of Christ and followed Jesus. He was a simple fisherman and is therefore considered the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. He also helped spread the Christian faith and is revered as a protector against evil forces.
- “The most ordinary story” (2014, Russia). This short cartoon is about one of the wisest holy elders - Sergius of Radonezh, who is the patron saint of the alphabet and knowledge. The main character is schoolboy Lyosha, who had difficulty with science and learning at school. This is a great teen cartoon.
It is worth mentioning separately two wonderful paintings that will surprise and love adults and children .
"The Extraordinary Adventures of Seraphim"
This cartoon was filmed based on the book of the same name by Timofey Veronin in 2015 (dir. Sergey Antonov, Russia). A very interesting story with an unpredictable ending about how goodness and faith bring miracles into life. The cartoon takes place in the pre-Easter week of 1943. The main character is a believing girl, Serafima Voskresenskaya, the daughter of a priest. She is in an orphanage, where her relationships with other girls and the teacher do not work out. She is helped by an orphanage worker, Aunt Lisa, who tells the story of St. Seraphim of Sarov, after whom Resurrection was named.
Christian cartoon "Superbook"
"Superbook" is a children's Bible in a cartoon . This is a colorful animated series about the wonderful adventures of the children Christopher, Joy and their toy Robik, who were transported centuries ago into the thick of Biblical events. In each episode, the main characters become participants in stories described in the Bible. They meet Adam and Eve, Samson, David, Noah.
Together with Moses, they pass through the parting of the Red Sea, visit the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and participate in many other exciting adventures.
Each episode carries a new instructive story , which is filled with spiritual values and magic.
Jesus of Nazareth, 1977
This is a television mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth”, produced jointly by an Italian and English film studio, directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
The film is an adaptation of the New Testament. There is a version that the film was created by order of the Vatican.
Some authoritative experts (representatives of the clergy, cinema, historians, etc.) consider this film to be the most successful and most complete adaptation of the Gospel.
The Greatest Story Ever Told, 1965
A film narrative about the earthly life of Jesus Christ, created by director George Stevens. The plot of the film “The Greatest Story Ever Told” is based on the gospel stories, as well as on the novel of the same name by Fulton Oursler.
The film was nominated in five categories to receive the prestigious Oscar award (for cinematography, art and set design, costumes, musical score and graphics).
The film shows the life of Christ from the moment of birth until death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. All events are presented in accordance with the canonical religious understanding, so the film did not cause any complaints from the clergy. However, at the same time, the image of the Son of God as an ordinary person is shown here quite realistically.
