Orthodoxy in movies

[Tallitot]

These are the movies I can think of that have at least a brief depiction of Orthodoxy:

The Deer Hunter

Nicholas and Alexandra

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Exorcist II: the Heretic

Exodus
Anybody think of any others?
 

[prodromos]

I could list a whole bunch of Greek movies

[Αριστοκλής]

These are the movies I can think of that have at least a brief depiction of Orthodoxy:

The Deer Hunter

Nicholas and Alexandra

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Exorcist II: the Heretic

Exodus
Anybody think of any others?
 

I was under the imprssion that the Exorcist movies used an Eastern Catholic venue, not Orthodox (and I remember being angry that Greek was being used by these EC's  - as if there are THAT many Greek-speaking ECs.)

I also remember being insulted by the screen's version of Bram Stoker's Dracula - implying Vlad Drakul was Orthodox by way of a couple early and late scenes in the flick. Iin fact he was not Orthodox.

Demetri

[TomS]

In the movie Terminal Man - I noticed that the Tom Hanks character crosses himself Orthodox style before he goes to sleep in the airport the first night.

[Αριστοκλής]

Tom Hanks is a Greek Orthodox convert.

Demetri

[Mor Ephrem]

Delta Force, starring Chuck Norris.  Although, there are all sorts of things wrong with the movie's depiction of Greek Orthodoxy. 

[TomS]

Tom Hanks is a Greek Orthodox convert.

Demetri

And? What does that have to do with a character he is playing in a movie?

[ania]

One of the James Bond movies has a scene inside a church in I think St. Petersburg, but I watched it a long time ago so don't rightly recall. 
I can list lots & lots of movies... Russian movies that is.  :-D
Also, the Seinfeld episode where George was going to convert to Latvian Orthodoxy was da bomb.

[Αριστοκλής]

And? What does that have to do with a character he is playing in a movie?

Dont' know. You'll have to ask him. Then again...

maybe TomH's conversion has set with him better than other Toms' 

[PhosZoe]

Dracula- The really bad one starring Winona Ryder and Keanu "DUDE!" Reaves. - There is a wedding scene in a chapel.

Although not a movie but, the show Six Foot Under had a scene in which Nick leads the Fisher family in prayer before dinner. The portryal was annoying, it played into the "look at the stupid ethnic" stereotype.

Again not a movie but TV- ER Dr. Luka Kovach says the lords prayer in Serbian and crosses himself in the orthodox style.

[MsGuided]

ahh goran visnjic 

[Robert]

Dracula- The really bad one starring Winona Ryder and Keanu "DUDE!" Reaves. - There is a wedding scene in a chapel.

Although not a movie but, the show Six Foot Under had a scene in which Nick leads the Fisher family in prayer before dinner. The portryal was annoying, it played into the "look at the stupid ethnic" stereotype.

Again not a movie but TV- ER Dr. Luka Kovach says the lords prayer in Serbian and crosses himself in the orthodox style.

I thought Luka was Croatian.

At least that's what I remember him saying in an episode a few seasons ago.

[Lemko Rusyn]

>>>Again not a movie but TV- ER Dr. Luka Kovach says the lords prayer in Serbian and crosses himself in the orthodox style.

Both Goran Visnjic and his character Luka Kovac are Croatian.  He prayed in Croatian as well (not that it's that much different than Serbian).

[Robert]

He's got a set of rosary beads in one of the episodes.

[Lemko Rusyn]

>>Exorcist II: the Heretic
>>>I was under the imprssion that the Exorcist movies used an Eastern Catholic venue, not Orthodox (and I remember being angry that Greek was being used by these EC's  - as if there are THAT many Greek-speaking ECs.)

Huh?
The only Eastern Christianity depicted in EII:TH was in Ethiopia, and they certainly were not Byzantines.  What made you think they were Uniates, and Greek-speaking, at that?  (Maybe they were Ge'ez Uniates, but how would you know?)

[Αριστοκλής]

>>Exorcist II: the Heretic
>>>I was under the imprssion that the Exorcist movies used an Eastern Catholic venue, not Orthodox (and I remember being angry that Greek was being used by these EC's - as if there are THAT many Greek-speaking ECs.)

Huh?
The only Eastern Christianity depicted in EII:TH was in Ethiopia, and they certainly were not Byzantines. What made you think they were Uniates, and Greek-speaking, at that? (Maybe they were Ge'ez Uniates, but how would you know?)

No, LR, I don't think this of EII. My comment (unclear) was referring to the first movie. After seeing that one, once, I refused to view any sequels.

Demetri

[Schultz]

The portryal was annoying, it played into the "look at the stupid ethnic" stereotype.

I disagree.  If anything, I think it portrayed the Fishers in a poor light, particularly afterwards when Claire and whatshisface were laughing about Nikolai in Claire's bedroom.

[prodromos]

One of the James Bond movies has a scene inside a church in I think St. Petersburg, but I watched it a long time ago so don't rightly recall.

For your eyes only made use of the monasteries on Meteora, but only the outside scenes IIRC. The inside scenes were not of anything I am familiar with there.

[Orthodoc]

There is a wonderful movie that came out in 1993 called 'My Life' with Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman.

Michael keaton plays the son of Ukrainian immigrants who was kind of ashamed of his background. His father was a hard working junk collector who was gone most of the day. Because of this, neither Michael or his brother were close to the father. Also, because his parents spoke with an accent Michael was always embarrased by them

Anyhow, when he grows up he changes his name to Bob Jones, gets married to Nicole Kidman, and makes it big in Hollywood. Around the same time he receives an invitation to his brothers wedding he finds out he has kidney cancer. His wife convinces to go back home for the wedding.

There is a scene of the outside of the church while a magnificant choir is singing selections from the Orthodox wedding service in English! There is also a scene in the inside of the church where they show the crowning ceremony and the walk around the Tetrapod. Another scene at the wedding reception where Michael and his brother do quite a traditional Ukrainian folk dance!

For those who have not seen it, rent it! Especially those who are 1st or 2nd generation Slavic Americans! It is an excellent movie. Only thing is....make sure you have a box of kleenex handy. I watched it with my neighbor who is a retired Philly Irish cop and he cried like a baby!

Orthodoc

[Orthodoc]

[I was under the imprssion that the Exorcist movies used an Eastern Catholic venue, not Orthodox (and I remember being angry that Greek was being used by these EC's - as if there are THAT many Greek-speaking ECs.)]

Yes, in the first movie the young Fr James was depicted as being the son of Greek immigrants.  I was angry too.

Orthodoc

[The young fogey]

Two classic additions to the list: Battleship Potemkin and Dr Zhivago. Neither makes the church look good: the priest is one of the villains in the former and at best useless in the latter. Sergei Eisenstein was making Soviet propaganda and did it very well and Boris Pasternak was a mild Communist himself.

While self-deprecating humour is a good thing, I think the depictions on TV in 'Taxi' and 'Seinfeld' are offensive - they give a lot of misinformation to outsiders about the Orthodox!

The depiction in Greek Wedding isn't flattering but probably true in a lot of cases - indifferent person joins to please wife and/or in-laws.

[Αριστοκλής]

Right you are Serge!
How could I forget my favorite movie of all time - Dr. Zhivago? I wasn't offended by the Church's depiction however.

Demetri

[Keble]

And? What does that have to do with a character he is playing in a movie?

It means he comes with a built-in parity error.

Actually, I thought the premise of the movie was that Hanks's character came from an ethinically ORthodox country.

[Keble]

While I'm at it, I'll remark that while one sees Anglicans by default in a jillion movies, actual positive depictions of Anglican clerics are next to nonexistent. Negative ones, unfortunately, are not.

[penelope]

Tom Hanks is a Greek Orthodox convert.

Demetri

Really?  That's cool; I like Tom Hanks .  Do you know if there's anyplace on the internet that talks about this?

[The young fogey]

How could I forget my favorite movie of all time - Dr. Zhivago? I wasn't offended by the Church's depiction however.

The burial scene towards the beginning is fine but I was thinking of the only other scene AFAIK where the Church appears — Rod Steiger’s been forcing himself on Julie Christie and when she goes to Confession the priest seems to blame her! Foul!

It means he comes with a built-in parity error.

Right — one can hold him to a higher standard because he knows better than to misrepresent what's being portrayed.

Actually, I thought the premise of the movie was that Hanks's character came from an ethnically Orthodox country.

I haven't seen The Terminal but I understand that's the case. He's a Russian from an ex-Soviet country that literally disappears overnight, which is why he has to live in the airport — he can't go home and he isn't allowed into the US proper.

While I'm at it, I'll remark that while one sees Anglicans by default in a jillion movies, actual positive depictions of Anglican clerics are next to nonexistent. Negative ones, unfortunately, are not.

Like with many inaccurate depictions of RC priests or of many other ministers I remember innocuous and not really offensive make-believe Anglican bishops and priests, like the dear vicar in the American WWII propaganda film Mrs Miniver (depicting a strangely accented England I didn't recognize), David Niven's Episcopal bishop in the shockingly (to us) named The Bishop's Wife (where angel Cary Grant falls in love with the wife played by Loretta Young and bows out like the gentleman he was). Richard Burton played an Episcopal priest who freaks out and turns against God in some black-and-white movie.

Then there's the box: amazingly considering my beliefs I thought Dawn French's vicar Geraldine was cute in the OK but dumb 'The Vicar of Dibley' (early-series David Horton the village squire ruled though) and there was the sympathetic everyman vicar who had to put up with Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced 'bou-quet'!) in 'Keeping Up Appearances'.

I think mainline Christian ministers are often depicted as nice but ineffectual/irrelevant, like Rene Auberjonois' original Fr Mulcahy in the movie M*A*S*H. Fundygelical ones are one-note villains. Orthodox priests are seldom-seen props in ethnic-joke plots. ISTM rabbis get treated a little better than mainline Christians and are wise or witty.

That's cool; I like Tom Hanks. Do you know if there's anyplace on the internet that talks about this?

Yes — I haven't got the URL but Google and ye shall find a page with an interview with him about his religious history.

[Anastasios]

Really? That's cool; I like Tom Hanks . Do you know if there's anyplace on the internet that talks about this?

Yeah, type in Tom Hanks Greek Orthodox and there are a few pages.  But it seems to have been a "for the wife" conversion (but then I am judging his heart).

Anastasios

[Αριστοκλής]

Yeah, type in Tom Hanks Greek Orthodox and there are a few pages. But it seems to have been a "for the wife" conversion (but then I am judging his heart).

Anastasios

I am not so certain about his motivation. I haven't read on it on the internet but recall his visit to either David Letterman's or Jay Leno's show in which he stated he converted after marriage. In perhaps atypical, for Hollywood, fashion he did not seem disposed to a lot of discussion about it. Sort of like Anthony Quinn's conversion, perhaps.

Demetri

[Αριστοκλής]

Re: Dr. Zhivago
"Rod Steiger’s been forcing himself on Julie Christie and when she goes to Confession the priest seems to blame her! Foul!"

Maybe Serge. But I did like the priest's admonishment: "Remember, the flesh is not weak, it is strong. Only the Sacrament of Marriage can contain it" (or words to that effect). Right on the money.

Demetri

[ania]

ahh goran visnjic

He's a hottie.  :-D

[ania]

"ISTM rabbis get treated a little better than mainline Christians and are wise or witty."

Unless of course, your a rabbi on Seinfeld.  :-)

[Elisha]

For your eyes only made use of the monasteries on Meteora, but only the outside scenes IIRC. The inside scenes were not of anything I am familiar with there.

Bond movies:

For You Eyes Only - What Prodromos said, but also a scene where Q dresses up as a priest (with fake beard and the stole) and Bond enters a "confessional".  This happens during a wedding reception outside.

Goldeneye - Scene inside a church in St. Petersburg

The World is Not Enough - Scene where Elektra, the later to be revealed evil girl who is a rich heiress, goes into a cave church with some guy who looks like an Orthodox Bishop.  She puts on a veil, talks in some foreign language that probably sounds like Russian, and then comes out and makes a decree that the oil pipeline will go around the cave church and it will be saved.  This supposedly happens in Azerbaijan.

There may be others.

[coptic orthodox boy]

IC XC NIKA
In a film called Deception, with Liam Neeson, there is a Coptic Orthodox priest censering the altar.
In that new film Daredevil (not very good), there is a small funeral with a Greek Orthodox priest, and deacons.
In the Omega Code, there is I think a Greek Orthodox bishop that hooks up with the Anti-Christ, and later turns him (Michael York) down.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin, has a Greek Orthodox priest.
With all love and peace
copticorthodoxboy

[Lemko Rusyn]

>>>[I was under the imprssion that the Exorcist movies used an Eastern Catholic venue, not Orthodox (and I remember being angry that Greek was being used by these EC's - as if there are THAT many Greek-speaking ECs.)]

>>Yes, in the first movie the young Fr James was depicted as being the son of Greek immigrants.  I was angry too.


Do you mean Father Damien Karras?  It was apparent that his mother was a Greek immigrant (she was listening to a Greek-American radio broadcast in one scene), but it was not evident that Damien (a Jesuit, of course) was anything but a RC priest (aka a Latin Rite Uniate papal Catholic, I suppose).

What makes you angry about this?  Because if he was Greek he wasn't Orthodox?  Isn't that phyletism?

[Anastasios]

Lemko Rusyn,

Wouldn't you be mad if a Rusyn turned Baptist?

Anastasios

[yBeayf]

I'm surprised nobody yet has mentioned Tarkovsky's masterpiece Andrei Rublev - portrays monastic life extensively, which only makes sense considering it's a movie about a bunch of monks. I thought it was a very sympathetic portrayal as well - no wonder it was so heavily censored during Soviet times.

[Jakub]

I'll second Captain Corelli's Mandolin, excellent movie.

james

[Arystarcus]

How could nobody have mentioned "Horror Express", with Telly Savalas?

It's about how "An English anthropologist has discovered a frozen monster in the frozen wastes of Manchuria which he believes may be the Missing Link. He brings the creature back to Europe aboard a trans-Siberian express, but during the trip the monster thaws out and starts to butcher the passengers one by one."

Taken from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068713/plotsummary

It had an Orthodox Monk (or was it a priest?) who although he resisted this evil creature's power (which turned out to be the devil), eventually he decided to join the dark side and referred to this creature as his "master" and did his bidding.

Not a very shining example to be sure.

In Christ,
Aaron

[Nacho]

How could nobody have mentioned "Horror Express", with Telly Savalas?

It's about how "An English anthropologist has discovered a frozen monster in the frozen wastes of Manchuria which he believes may be the Missing Link. He brings the creature back to Europe aboard a trans-Siberian express, but during the trip the monster thaws out and starts to butcher the passengers one by one."

Sounds quite interesting. I might just have to rent it & kick back with some popcorn & soda pop...

[Dimitrius]

Also, how could everyone forget Zorba the Greek?

As for:

Tom Hanks is a Greek Orthodox convert.

Demetri
Really? That's cool; I like Tom Hanks . Do you know if there's anyplace on the internet that talks about this?

Tom Hanks prays at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Sophia in Los Angeles located at:

1324 South Normandie Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90006


Here is the link to the Church’s website.


http://www.stsophia.org/

My brother also prays at the Church and has seen Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson (whose real name is Margarita Ibrahimov) attending there a number of times with their children. After the Liturgy, Tom and his family usually go have lunch at a Greek bakery shop that is walking distance from the Church. Amazingly, nobody actually bothers Tom Hanks with autographs when they are at the Church or the bakery.

By the way, this is the same Church that Tele Savalis used to attend.

[CatholicEagle]

Also, how could everyone forget Zorba the Greek?

As for:
Tom Hanks prays at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Sophia in Los Angeles located at:

1324 South Normandie Ave
Los Angeles,  CA 90006


Here is the link to the Church’s website.


http://www.stsophia.org/

My brother also prays at the Church and has seen Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson (whose real name is Margarita Ibrahimov) attending there a number of times with their children. After the Liturgy, Tom and his family usually go have lunch at a Greek bakery shop that is walking distance from the Church. Amazingly, nobody actually bothers Tom Hanks with autographs when they are at the Church or the bakery.

By the way, this is the same Church that Tele Savalis used to attend.

Excuse if me if this seems impolite, but what is an altar rail doing in that Orthodox church?

[coptic orthodox boy]

IC XC NIKA
Oh, how could I forget Fiddler on the Roof
Russian Orthodox priest (with a cheap fake beard), and I suppose a deacon maybe?
With all love and peace
copticorthodoxboy

[Arystarcus]

I took the photo tour of St. Sophia Cathedral ( http://www.stsophia.org/photo.asp ) and it really is a beautiful church.

Much more appealing to the eyes than Cardinal Mahoney's monstrosity that poses as a "cathedral".

By the way, this is the same Church that Tele Savalis used to attend.

I was going to ask if Telly Savalas was Orthodox and if he practiced the faith, but I guess the above info answered my question before I even asked it.

In Christ,
Aaron

[Arystarcus]

Excuse if me if this seems impolite, but what is an altar rail doing in that Orthodox church?

I do not believe this is a true altar rail, at least in the idea of how a Roman Catholic (Not that modern Roman Catholic churches really have them anymore anyways), or Anglican/Episcopalian would view it, or use it, because Orthodox do not kneel to receive the Holy Gifts. From the church's schedule, it looks liek they have a lot of tours come through the church, so maybe it is in place to keep peopel from wandering up to the iconostasis, because if they got that far, they might try to get into the altar area.

That is what I thought anyways, maybe there is another practical reason for it? I noticed that St. Markella's in Astoria has a similar "altar rail" too.

In Christ,
Aaron

[Orthodoc]

[Excuse if me if this seems impolite, but what is an altar rail doing in that Orthodox church?]

It's not an Altar Rail as is known in the pre Vatican II RCC that separated the Nave from the Sanctuary. In an Orthodox Church it separates the Nave from the Solea. The Iconostasis separates the Nave from the Sanctuary.

Orthodoc

[Lemko Rusyn]

>>>Lemko Rusyn,
>>>Wouldn't you be mad if a Rusyn turned Baptist?
>>>Anastasios

I was surprised to meet such people when I first began to encounter them, and I was a little offended, I guess.

But now I know more Rusyn (American, mostly) atheists, agnostics, Protestants, "Bible meetingers", and Jews (converts from BC or EO) than I can count.  Some were baptized BC or EO and formed in the faith; others were raised in their particular sects; others were the children of socialists and atheists themselves and remain unchurched or anti-religion.

Mad?  No; I'm totally over it.  They're good people.  C'est la vie.

[Lemko Rusyn]

In the horror genre there's a few that come to mind.

Mario Bava's Black Sunday aka The Mask of Satan (1961) is adapted from a Nikolaj Gogol short story, and is set in 19th-century Moldavia.  There is a priest character (minor, but important) who looks traditional Orthodox (incl. a riasa and pectoral cross), and an icon and its Church Slavonic inscription is a plot point (the priest has to "decipher" the inscription) but certain of the other religious trappings appear more Latin than Byzantine.  Believe it or not, the priest seems portrayed as kind of quaint, but his faith and that of the townspeople is not ridiculed; on the contrary, it helps bring about a victory over evil.

The Keep (1983) which I've only seen once, many years ago, based on an F. Paul Wilson novel, is set in Romania and I distinctly remember it had a strong religious theme tied to Romanian Orthodoxy.

[Jakub]

Aaron,

You & I agree regarding Cardinal Mahony's creation ? Oy vey !

james

[Tallitot]

Li Richard Burton played an Episcopal priest who freaks out and turns against God in some black-and-white movie.

That would be "Night of the Iguana", with Susan Lyons and Ava Gardner (if it had been about an Orthodox priest I suppose it would have been called "Night of the Igumen")

[Donna Rose]

(if it had been about an Orthodox priest I suppose it would have been called "Night of the Igumen")

LOL

[Deacon Lance]

Unfortunately Tom Hanks will be stariing in the Da Vinci Code movie.

http://romanticmovies.about.com/od/thedavincicode/a/davinci113004.htm

[Αριστοκλής]

Unfortunately Tom Hanks will be stariing in the Da Vinci Code movie.

Figures, doesn't it? Hollywood...what a joke.

[monkvasyl]

There was an episode of the TV show Taxi that also did a bad number on Orthodoxy.  If I remember correctly the wife of one of the men went to the "Orthodox" priest because her husband cheated on her.  The "priest" told her she needed to cheat on her husband -- sort of a way to punish him, I guess.

Vlad Dracula was originally Orthodox, but converted to be a Roman Catholic.  That's were some people believe that he is a vampire because left left the True Church. There was a tv movie, about 2 yrs ago (?), that played up the Orthodox side.  They had the Church responsible for Vlad being murdered.

Another tv show, I think it was called Millinium (?), had an episode in an Orthodox church, with the icons of Christ and the Theotokos reversed on the icon screen.

Fiddler on the Roof, also had little scenes with Orthodox.

By way the worse movie I saw was the Russia, Rasputin.  There is a scene of Rasputin bedding a woman and having a group of monks come in and attack Rasputin.  As they are beating Rasputin, the woman gets dressed, she is a NUN.

[The young fogey]

There was an episode of the TV show Taxi that also did a bad number on Orthodoxy.  If I remember correctly the wife of one of the men went to the "Orthodox" priest because her husband cheated on her.  The "priest" told her she needed to cheat on her husband -- sort of a way to punish him, I guess.

Already mentioned 'Taxi' - yes, Father, that's the worst example of several from that programme ’cos it 1) gave the most misinformation and 2) to top it off, Latka's wife says after being given this ridiculous order from the priest, 'Ve are Orthodox'. Ugh.

Fiddler on the Roof also had little scenes with Orthodox.

Love the 30 seconds in the introductory scene/song ('Tradition') when Tevye introduces the Russians in the larger town of Anatevka outside the shetl, even though the organ music is out of place describing them! The hieromonk giving the girl a blessing, the onion domes and crosses above them in the background... beautiful.

The scene where Tevye's wife visits the church to find out what happened to daughter Hava (she married a Russian against Tevye's wishes) seem unflattering in part but accurate - the minor cleric or monk said rather rudely 'What are you doing here?' - but I also remember the priest looking benevolent.

[monkvasyl]

Just remembered, Are You Being Served? with one of the gentlemen dressing as a "GreeK" Archbishop for a fake wedding.  Also, Freinds, they needed a minister for a wedding and they dragged in an Orthodox priest, only to be shoved aside by Joey a minister of some group.

I also remembered a movie made in the 50's called, And The Next Voice You Hear...  It was about a voice on the radio that was beleived to be God.  This lead to a group of farmers in Russia, I guess, digging up some trunks.  The next scene is a procession with icons and the leader of the farmers is a bishop.

Do you notice in alot of movies with Orthodox monastics the headgear is nothing like it is today/

[monkvasyl]

Has anyone ever noticed in all the Dracula films, with Christopher Lee, from Hammer Films, the churches and clergy are always Catholic.  It was only in The Vampire Circus that they showed the body of an Orthodox  priest, dead from the plague, and the interior of the church.

[The young fogey]

Just remembered, 'Are You Being Served?' with one of the gentlemen dressing as a "GreeK" Archbishop for a fake wedding.

Didn't see that one. I don't like that show very much except for Mr Humphries and even he in a black-humour way is part of the dreariness, the class hatred and 'hanging on in quiet desperation' of the show - in short, reflecting unpleasant and true aspects of real life in England.

Also, 'Friends', they needed a minister for a wedding and they dragged in an Orthodox priest, only to be shoved aside by Joey a minister of some group.

I saw that and it wasn't that bad - he seemed vested properly and the ruse was they claimed Chandler, Monica or both were Greek. Detail alert: the sign in front of the reception hall for the Greek wedding had 'Anastassakis' as one of the family names on it, and I think that might be Jennifer Aniston's real or least historical family name.

Do you notice in a lot of movies with Orthodox monastics the headgear is nothing like it is today?

I hadn't but on 'Seinfeld' the hats were exaggerated but almost right - about the only thing accurate in the whole episode.

[monkvasyl]

I think it might have been in Fiddler, the veil just hangs loose in the back, not gathered as it is today.

There was a show, I can't remember the name...it had Black Dragon in it.  It was about some German, I think, Catholics looking for a route through Russia to China.  They encounter Ukrainian Cossacks and while in Russia they were arrested and when they found out one of the members was a Jesuit they were planning to excute them all.  This scene was very interesting...it beginning with the "Our Father" being chanted by a group of monks.  Each prisoner was taken to the priest and if he crossed himself in the Orthodox fashion and kissed the cross he was not excuted.  But he was quickly dragged to the river's edge and dunked 3 times.  Anyone not doing so was hung on the spot.  Of course the Jesuit refuses to cross himself and he's about to be hung when he rushes back to the priest and crosses himself and gets "baptised.  The leader of the group says, "Priest you made the right choice...Orthodoxy or death."  When they finally get to China they meet with a Russia priest-monk named German.  The natives offer the Jesuit a wife...he refuses and one native says, "Father German accepted the gift."

[yBeayf]

Do you notice in alot of movies with Orthodox monastics the headgear is nothing like it is today/

I know that in Andrei Rublev, it was set during the Tatar yoke, so the headgear was according to the old rite: monks wore simple veils and skufiyas, not kamilavkas. You can see a screenshot with the old-rite monastic gear here.

[The young fogey]

I know that in Andrei Rublev, it was set during the Tatar yoke, so the headgear was according to the old rite: monks wore simple veils and skufiyas, not kamilavkas. You can see a screenshot with the old-rite monastic gear here.

Thanks for the info. Today only the patriarch of Moscow wears that style of monastic hat in the Russian Orthodox Church.

[monkvasyl]

Thanks, Beayf. I personally prefer the monastic habit according to the Old Rite. Tho, I don't know how my Archbishop would react. Even the tunic is different...it has a set of buttons going down to the waist and the rest of the tunic is in one piece. Reminds me of my former Franciscan days.

[yBeayf]

Of course, the fact that Andrei Rublev got it right for the time period it was set in is no excuse for films set in modern times having inaccurate clerical garb.

[ania]

Quote
Just remembered, 'Are You Being Served?' with one of the gentlemen dressing as a "GreeK" Archbishop for a fake wedding.
 
Serge
Didn't see that one. I don't like that show very much except for Mr Humphries and even he in a black-humour way is part of the dreariness, the class hatred and 'hanging on in quiet desperation' of the show - in short, reflecting unpleasant and true aspects of real life in England.

Ania:
I love this show, and when I saw this episode I was ROLLING.  Mrs. Slokum (sp?) was supposed to get married to a Greek gentleman, who left her.  Rather than let her face embarassment in front of her family and friends, the rest of the cast threw a fake wedding.  I didn't find it offensive, the old man obviously had no idea what he was doing, somehow involving salt & pepper shakers and intoning "Arystotle, Olympus...."

Quote
Also, 'Friends', they needed a minister for a wedding and they dragged in an Orthodox priest, only to be shoved aside by Joey a minister of some group.

Serge:
I saw that and it wasn't that bad - he seemed vested properly and the ruse was they claimed Chandler, Monica or both were Greek. Detail alert: the sign in front of the reception hall for the Greek wedding had 'Anastassakis' as one of the family names on it, and I think that might be Jennifer Aniston's real or least historical family name.

Ania: I saw it too, it wasn't so bad.

[ania]

Excuse if me if this seems impolite, but what is an altar rail doing in that Orthodox church?

Actually, in Russia these railings are quite common.  They are not alter rails in the Catholic sense.  From what I saw in the big cathedrals they serve the practical purpose of keeping people off the stairs to the amvon. 

[CatholicEagle]

I took the photo tour of St. Sophia Cathedral ( http://www.stsophia.org/photo.asp ) and it really is a beautiful church.

Much more appealing to the eyes than Cardinal Mahoney's monstrosity that poses as a "cathedral".



I was going to ask if Telly Savalas was Orthodox and if he practiced the faith, but I guess the above info answered my question before I even asked it. 

In Christ,
Aaron

That multiuse building called a cathderal is not what I call "Catholic"!!! I have been told by some one who keeps acquiantance with witches that they would love to have such a 'worship space"! THe insanity

[Arystarcus]

That multiuse building called a cathderal is not what I call "Catholic"!!!

Neither would I! 

I have been told by some one who keeps acquiantance with witches that they would love to have such a 'worship space"! THe insanity

Somehow, I am not surpised... 

In Christ,
Aaron

[Tallitot]

Telly Savalas was Orthodox, and his funeral was held at St. Sophia's in LA. Jennifer Aniston attended; Savalas was her baptismal godparent.

[bripat22]

 I fondly remember a scene from the (yes, made-for-TV), "Young Catherine" which, although a rather soap-operalike version of Russian history has some lovely view of Russian Church interiors and an excellent portrayal of a Metropolitan who counsels Catherine the Great before she converts to Orthodoxy. He tells her that he respects her Lutheran Faith and tries to explain to her that what she had been brought up to believe about Icons and images was  not actually the case. He also stands up to Empress Elizabeth (in a great portrayal by Vanessa Redgrave) telling her that Catherine should not be forced into Orthodoxy.
 Does anyone elso remember this film??

[CatholicEagle]

Telly Savalas was Orthodox, and his funeral was held at St. Sophia's in LA. Jennifer Aniston attended; Savalas was her baptismal godparent.

So does that mean Jennifer ANniston is Orthodox also???

[Tallitot]

So does that mean Jennifer ANniston is Orthodox also???

I don't know if she is practicing, but she was baptized Orthodox.

[CatholicEagle]

I think it might have been in Fiddler, the veil just hangs loose in the back, not gathered as it is today.

There was a show, I can't remember the name...it had Black Dragon in it. It was about some German, I think, Catholics looking for a route through Russia to China. They encounter Ukrainian Cossacks and while in Russia they were arrested and when they found out one of the members was a Jesuit they were planning to excute them all. This scene was very interesting...it beginning with the "Our Father" being chanted by a group of monks. Each prisoner was taken to the priest and if he crossed himself in the Orthodox fashion and kissed the cross he was not excuted. But he was quickly dragged to the river's edge and dunked 3 times. Anyone not doing so was hung on the spot. Of course the Jesuit refuses to cross himself and he's about to be hung when he rushes back to the priest and crosses himself and gets "baptised. The leader of the group says, "Priest you made the right choice...Orthodoxy or death." When they finally get to China they meet with a Russia priest-monk named German. The natives offer the Jesuit a wife...he refuses and one native says, "Father German accepted the gift."

How barbaric!!!

[BJohnD]

From Russia, With Love (1963) includes a scene inside what Bond calls "St. Sophia mosque" (Yikes! ) in Constantinople.

Captain Corelli's Mandonlin shows a whole lot of extras crossing themselves the wrong way.

Shirley Valentine includes a minute or two of a Greek wedding, shown very tastefully.

And the big city in Star Wars: Episode I looks a whole lot like Constantinople.

[Orthodoc]

Telly Savalas was Orthodox, and his funeral was held at St. Sophia's in LA. Jennifer Aniston attended; Savalas was her baptismal godparent.

Telly Savalas was a married man with children who had a mistress on the side.  A mistress who bore him an illegitimate son.  A son who he waited until he was around eight years old to have baptised because he wanted it done in Greece.  Orthodox??

Orthodoc

[TomS]

Telly Savalas was a married man with children who had a mistress on the side. A mistress who bore him an illegitimate son. A son who he waited until he was around eight years old to have baptised because he wanted it done in Greece. Orthodox??

Orthodoc

Yes.

[Orthodoc]

Yes.

Now why doesn't that surpriseme?

Orthodoc

[ania]

Orthodoc...
You have no idea the family dinamics that went on the Savalas household.  What the media portrays, or what even the family portrays to the outside world could be extremely different from what actually happens.  What if Mr. Savalas repented?  Who are you to judge?  Everyone sins, in thought & action.  You are in no position to judge Mr. Savalas.  He died, hopefully after confessing his sins & receiving absolution.  I know a lot of people who unfortunately have had relations outside of marriage, and even a few that resulted in children.  Unfortunate, yes, but it is your kind of attitude that drives these people farther away from the chuch, as well as their children & loved ones... Its the people who judge, can't fogive, can't understand, that are the bane of our beloved Church's existance. 

[Justinian]

Orthodox in movies I have seen have always been negative depictions besides "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".
In the "Peacemaker" it has a Orthodox Serb Terrorist who sneaks in a nuclear weapon into the United States, and when he sees it on the baggage belt being loaded onto the plane he crosses himself Orthodox style, not Catholic style, as he would if he was a Croat. "Behind Enemy Lines" is full of anti-Serb Orthodox propaganda, as when the Serb sniper kisses something (i think it was his baptismal cross) when he shoots down the U.S. plane, and when they are in the Serb military headquarters you can see Orthodox graffiti all over the walls, and in the office with the General (who was in the beginning of the movie supervising the filling up of a mass grave of muslims) has a Orthodox icon on the wall of the Theotokos. "Stiletto Dance" has  a shotgun-wielding Orthodox priest who is in cahoots with a Serb Terrorist organization and the Russian Mob. It just looks to me like some directors in hollywood have an axe to grind........


In XC,
Justinian

[aurelia]

quote: indifferent person joins to please wife and/or in-laws. (in reference to my big fat greek wedding)

I'm sorry but i love that movie, and it is one thing that made me want to go check out the GO church...it put me in mind of the wonderful people i knew when i was dating a GO boy...I've never experienced anything but warmth and welcome fromt the local Greek community.

I don't think they (those who join when getting married) are or that character was indifferent in general, and in that case in the movie, I think it was that he loved her enough to become a part of her faith life as well as her life life. Of course the two are intertwined, so there you go. Besides, it was a movie, they arent going to delve into a deep spiritual analysis in a family comedy, are they?

I've never seen Deer Hunter, and only saw the Exorcist once (that was enough) though i may have to check into some of the films listed (i do love movies) as for negative terrorist type protrayals, aren't there nutters in every bunch?  I dont want to get political, but religion has been used to justify terrorism for aeons, even while the actions totally conradict the teachings of the faith. 

one more thing, a question, about crossing, why the difference between RC and GO, O in general? is there a thread on this (I'll go look)

[BJohnD]

one more thing, a question, about crossing, why the difference between RC and GO, O in general? is there a thread on this (I'll go look)

I think it's more a cultural/historical "accident" than anything, but I have read elsewhere that it may have grown out of different reactions to the priest blessing the faithful. That is, the priest faces the faithful and makes the sign of the cross over them, moving his hand up and down, then to his left and right. It may be that in the East the people "mirrored" the movement -- moving horizontally from their right to left -- and in the West they imitated the motion exactly -- their left to right.

BJohnD

[Mor Ephrem]

There is a thread on the different ways of making the Sign of the Cross; I don't recall where exactly it is, but if you search for it, I think you may find it useful. 

[Νεκτάριος]

as for negative terrorist type protrayals, aren't there nutters in every bunch? I dont want to get political, but religion has been used to justify terrorism for aeons, even while the actions totally conradict the teachings of the faith.

In the case of the Serbians it is deliberate attempt to recast the Serbs as the Villians for a genecide that never occured in Kosovo and Bosnia to the Albanians.  It is not a case "nutters in every bunch" or anything that flippant.  To this day the persecution of Christians in the Balkans continues and is aided by Western Governments. 

[aurelia]

I didnt mean to come off as flippant, far from it.  I wanted to avoid an essay on extremism in religion, and how far some will go to "justify" their personal agendas by using religious beliefs, twisting them up and totally removing them from the original intent.

[Psalti Boy]

Zorba the Greek

[Justinian]

I just got done watching a movie more balanced in the take of Bosnia. Its called "Savior" starring Dennis Quaid and directed by a Serb Director. It has an Orthodox Priest in it whose later martyred by Muslims. Its a very good movie but not for the faint of heart. Also, if anyone has seen it, and is familiar with Serb folk song, theres a song played while Dennis Quaid is supervising the prisoner exhange with his sniper rifle. I absoulutely love it and would love to know the name of it or where to purchase it on a CD.

In XC,
Justinian

[jmbejdl]

Justinian,

Yes, Savior is a fantastic film (in a grim way - that scene with the hammer wielding paramilitary literally gave me nightmares!). I, too, would say that's about the most balanced film I've seen on the wars in former Yugoslavia - most are just Serb bashing rubbish. There was also a pretty balanced drama on British television a few years ago about two friends from Sarajevo, one Muslim and one Serb and how the war affected them - can't for the life of me remember what it was called, though.

James

[jmbejdl]

I just read through this thread and noticed that the subject of that awful Bram Stoker's Dracula film was brought up. I know that I have a bee in my bonnet about this but...

There never was anyone in Romanian history called Vlad Dracula - Bram Stoker based his character on Vlad Tepes, his grandfather Vlad Dracul and Countess Bathory. 'Dracula' is grammatically impossible in Romanian, it would be like saying 'the he/she-devil'.

Vlad Dracul was Orthodox for his entire life (despite the title meaning the Devil). His grandson Vlad Tepes (the Impaler), on the other hand, did convert to Roman Catholicism in the hope of western help against the Turks. This never materialised and I'm unsure as to whether he returned to Orthodoxy - in any case he wasn't a particularly good Christian and he certainly was never more than a political convert to Catholicism - there's a famous story of him nailing Catholic legates' hats to their heads!

There ends the rant. Was anyone here aware of a direct descendant of Vlad Tepes trying to sue Francis Ford Coppola over Bram Stoker's Dracula, by the way? I saw it on Romanian news one time when I was visiting the country - she was claiming that the scene in the church at the beginning where Vlad stabs the cross was deformation of character. I never did find out how that panned out. I'd love to know, though.

James

[SouthSerb99]

I just got done watching a movie more balanced in the take of Bosnia. Its called "Savior" starring Dennis Quaid and directed by a Serb Director. It has an Orthodox Priest in it whose later martyred by Muslims. Its a very good movie but not for the faint of heart. Also, if anyone has seen it, and is familiar with Serb folk song, theres a song played while Dennis Quaid is supervising the prisoner exhange with his sniper rifle. I absoulutely love it and would love to know the name of it or where to purchase it on a CD.

Justinian,

     Haven't seen this movie because as a general rule I avoid all the blatant anti-Serb propoganda flicks, but I'll make a point of checking it out in the next few weeks and I'll let you know if I know the song.  I might be that I already own it, if so, I'll send you a copy.  I have a pretty extensive collection of songs from the homeland. 

      To add to the discussion, I've seen countless documentaries on Sundance with regard to the Orthodoxy.  In fact, I have my Tivo set up to tape any programs appearing with certain "keywords".  Orthodox is one of those.

       Often I get documentaries on Orthodox Judaism and as a result am slowly becoming an expert on all things Jewish. LOL 

[Αριστοκλής]

My wife has a thing for these $1 DVDs at Wal-Mart. Last night she came home with an old Robert Wagner film, "Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef" - about Florida (GreeK) Cypriote sponge divers. Loaded with things Orthodox. I enjoyed it.

[Pravoslavbob]

one more thing, a question, about crossing, why the difference between RC and GO, O in general? is there a thread on this (I'll go look)

Believe it or not, Aurelia, as far as I know, the Latins used to cross themselves in exactly the way we did. But then a pope mandated that this should change, in order to further distinguish the Latins from the Greeks, because this pope was angry at the Greeks. I guess you should look for that thread and see what others have to say, as I am a bit foggy on this.

Bob

[Αριστοκλής]

There ends the rant. Was anyone here aware of a direct descendant of Vlad Tepes trying to sue Francis Ford Coppola over Bram Stoker's Dracula, by the way? I saw it on Romanian news one time when I was visiting the country - she was claiming that the scene in the church at the beginning where Vlad stabs the cross was deformation of character. I never did find out how that panned out. I'd love to know, though.

James

Hey, James. Nice to have your more first hand input here. I discern you are in agreement with Professor E. Miller's relatively recent work on Vlad. I am amazed at how quickly her version has been propagating on the internet. A few years ago( before she published) what historical facts I could glean did not exactly deny what she wrote, but they did state that while he was from an Orthodox family he was not Orthodox himself. Further, he did not convert to Rc-ism but was finally baptized (and for the reasons Miller gives). No matter. This is not something I'll go to the wall over.
Historians apparently disagree and I'll accept your version if it's actually Romanian-based. I have no doubt that he was (and apparently still is) a local hero of sorts.

[Carpatho-Rusyn]

Two classics, in Russian (English subtitles) but worth every minute:

Andrei Rublev - uncut version of the Tarkovsky classic now available on DVD

The Captain's Daughter - Pushkin's classic story. I've only seen it on VHS.

Warm Regards,

[Carpatho-Rusyn]

I'm surprised nobody yet has mentioned Tarkovsky's masterpiece Andrei Rublev - portrays monastic life extensively, which only makes sense considering it's a movie about a bunch of monks. I thought it was a very sympathetic portrayal as well - no wonder it was so heavily censored during Soviet times.

Happy to see someone else appreciates it! You have great taste!

You can see how almost the entire film would give the soviets the jitters.

[Marjorie]

Yeah, almost any Tarkovsky film has some strand of Orthodoxy in it, as he was a devout Orthodox believer. I love him.

Marjorie

[Justinian]

Justinian,

  Haven't seen this movie because as a general rule I avoid all the blatant anti-Serb propoganda flicks, but I'll make a point of checking it out in the next few weeks and I'll let you know if I know the song. I might be that I already own it, if so, I'll send you a copy. I have a pretty extensive collection of songs from the homeland.

   To add to the discussion, I've seen countless documentaries on Sundance with regard to the Orthodoxy. In fact, I have my Tivo set up to tape any programs appearing with certain "keywords". Orthodox is one of those.

   Often I get documentaries on Orthodox Judaism and as a result am slowly becoming an expert on all things Jewish. LOL

Have you rented it? If so please tell us what you thought of it, and if you know the song, it would be quite the blessing for you to send it to me. Thanks so much!

In XC,
Justinian

[jmbejdl]

Hey, James. Nice to have your more first hand input here. I discern you are in agreement with Professor E. Miller's relatively recent work on Vlad. I am amazed at how quickly her version has been propagating on the internet. A few years ago( before she published) what historical facts I could glean did not exactly deny what she wrote, but they did state that while he was from an Orthodox family he was not Orthodox himself. Further, he did not convert to Rc-ism but was finally baptized (and for the reasons Miller gives). No matter. This is not something I'll go to the wall over.
Historians apparently disagree and I'll accept your version if it's actually Romanian-based. I have no doubt that he was (and apparently still is) a local hero of sorts.

Hi,

I only just noticed this reply - sorry for the delay. Yes, Vlad Tepes is considered a hero in Romania, but a very secular one. He's more of a brutal but successful ruler than he is a wonderful man, though many look (through rose-tinted glasses I feel) to his period as a golden age for Wallachia. I'd actually say that Mircea the Old and Vlad Dracul are considered more as heroes in the conventional sense, because of their military campaigns against the Turks. Of course, the greatest hero in Romanian history is, and probably always will be, Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) the Voievod of Moldova and cousin of Vlad Tepes. He is an Orthodox saint, was a great patron of the Church, successfully defended Moldova from Turks, Tartars, Hungarians and Poles for almost 50 years and was a brilliant statesman. There's someone I'd love to see a film on. I believe there is one (in Romanian) made during the communist era, but that is likely to gloss over his Orthodoxy, which would pretty much remove the most important aspect of his life. It really is a shame that it's Vlad and not Stefan that is best known in the west.

James

[montalban]

(I'm not trying to start too many threads, but I've been thinking about this)

A great many films we see have a Catholic/Protestant theme to them. I'm a great horror film buff, and it's always a Catholic priest that's featured fighting vampires, or performing some great task - or someone's gone to the Catholic church to take holy water and implements to fight off the vampire.

Maybe I'm just thinking aloud

[Fr. George]

Off the top of my head, I'm trying to think of Orthodox ones...
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which disappointed me around the baptism...
The Deer Hunter (the church scenes were filmed at St. Theodosios Cathedral, Cleveland, OH)

Does Dr. Zhivago have anything Orthodox in it?

[The young fogey]

Most movies are made in the West.

And by the time Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, the area he knew in Transylvania was peopled largely by Germans, not Romanians, so they wouldn't have been Orthodox, never mind that the real mediæval Dracula was a sometime Orthodox. (I think he was a born one who became Roman Catholic for some reason.)

There is an older thread on Orthodoxy in the movies.

Dr Zhivago has two Orthodox scenes: Zhivago's mother's burial towards the beginning and Lara going to Confession. The latter doesn't make the church look good IMO as the priest blames Lara for what happened when Komorovsky was forcing himself on her (and in one scene essentially rapes her). Bias alert: Pasternak criticised the government but was a moderate Communist himself.

Also, in the action pic The Peacemaker nine years ago, the first scene is a Serbian Orthodox service. (The film doesn't make Serbs look very good.)

As for the Orthodox on the small screen, in the States they show up unflatteringly (and wildly inaccurately) as props in ethnic gags, from 'Taxi' to 'Seinfeld' and 'Friends'. At least the priest on 'Friends' was dressed somewhat correctly, but he was wearing a Russian-style chasuble, the Orthodox don't do weddings in hotels and the service doesn't start with 'Dearly beloved...' (And how many Greek hieromonks do you see as parish priests in America?) Never saw them on TV in the UK.

[Timos]

Theres a really nice film I've got called "The Tale of a Nightingale"- Kori  (young girl) Maria the nun. It's surprisingly in english with greek subtitles!!! The actors are all or mostly greek. It features a beautiful young lady playing the part of St. Maria (apparently) a disciple of St. Patro Kosmas of Aitolos. The costuming is authentically greek/turkish (for the pasha) and it is set in a beautiful monastery in Greece/Cyprus.

It's called tale of nightingale because a nightingale is featured in the movie chirping away every time Maria has a calling from God...

It features also byzantine chant in english during Holy Week (Allelouia- Behold the Bridegroom Comes...) and the 'nuns' are chanting it- quite rare unless you've got Vassilis Hadjinicoloau's english byzantine holy week cd.

However the film quality is really bad as it is a very old movie. I've been searching everywhere for this film in a good quality but have had no luck.

Ironially, this is an EO (Greek national) saint from the 1700's who sacrficied her eyes for her purity...and I bought this VHS @ a Coptic church's bookstore. They also had some other EO greek/russian saints lives as well as even some catholic ones. It seems the bookstore added on arabic subtitles on top of the greek subtitles so neither the greek nor arabic subtitles are completely comprehensible.

I'd love to get my hands on a good quality version of this film.

Speaking of movies, I want to become a movie director and of course make Orthodox movies, movies about Constantinople (Hellenism)/Romiosyni/ Serbs/Russians/ without all the western bias and political agenda.

Then again I'd like to one day be a priest but I've never heard of a priest who does films

[SouthSerb99]

Speaking of movies, I want to become a movie director and of course make Orthodox movies, movies about Constantinople (Hellenism)/Romiosyni/ Serbs/Russians/ without all the western bias and political agenda.

Then again I'd like to one day be a priest but I've never heard of a priest who does films

I had a screenplay in progress which I was going to "pitch" to various Hollywood directors for a movie based on Kosovo and the Battle of Kosovo 1389.  It was to be a cross between Braveheart and the Passion of the Christ!  

If you ever decide to make movies... consider the Battle of Kosovo as a great Orthodox story!

[bergschlawiner]

Makes me wonder why HBO or someone has not made a movie of the fall of Constantinople?  The time is right, the story is more action than "Kingdom of Heaven."  And how about HBO making a series called "Byzantium" along the lines of their "Rome."

[yBeayf]

Makes me wonder why HBO or someone has not made a movie of the fall of Constantinople?  The time is right, the story is more action than "Kingdom of Heaven."  And how about HBO making a series called "Byzantium" along the lines of their "Rome."

I had mentioned something like this on another message board; specifically, having a movie made about Justinian. The flaw with this plan, at least from our perspective, was shown immediately by desires expressed to have many shots of Theodora in "compromising positions". The lack of Hollywood movies about our saints might be a good thing.

[The young fogey]

I had mentioned something like this on another message board; specifically, having a movie made about Justinian. The flaw with this plan, at least from our perspective, was shown immediately by desires expressed to have many shots of Theodora in "compromising positions". The lack of Hollywood movies about our saints might be a good thing.

As has been said elsewhere, there is longstanding anti-Byzantine bias as shown in Gibbon for example, so that history is largely ignored and forgotten in the West.

A few Theodora shots may be both necessary to tell your story and, honestly, for sales but point taken. I understand that was a problem with the old Hollywood biblical pictures like Samson and Delilah: how to balance 'sex sells' titillation with enough righteous indignation...

The complete life story of St Mary of Egypt would probably be unfilmable hardcore.

Not a problem with military historical epics (after Henry V or Braveheart) like the Kosovo story.

Why violence on screen seems less of an occasion of sin (which I suspect as well) than sex could be a thread of its own.

[SouthSerb99]

http://www.kosovo.com/kosbitka.html

The Battle of Kosovo

[Anastasios]

"I'm not trying to start too many threads, but I've been thinking about this"

Au contraire; this is a message board where one hopes to find lots of lively discussion. You are helping us to live this goal

[Fr. George]

Just to add to the TV listings, I'm sure there was Orthodox or pseudo-Orthodox scenes on Perfect Strangers (I have one in my mind, but don't remember the context) and Full House.

[yBeayf]

Why violence on screen seems less of an occasion of sin (which I suspect as well) than sex could be a thread of its own.

Sex on screen can arouse the passions in a way that violence usually doesn't. A guy watching somebody get killed onscreen isn't usually going to be inflamed with bloodlust, but watching a woman having sex will quite likely induce lustful feelings in him.

[The young fogey]

I wondered if 'Perfect Strangers' ever did anything regarding Balki's* religion and if so was it at least respectful if not accurate? I've no idea.

(Would the isle of Mypos be under the Patriarch of Constantinople or the Archbishop of Athens? Or did the whole island go Old Calendarist? If so which group? Or maybe, just maybe, they were among the converts and are part of, gasp, Greece's small Roman Catholic or really tiny Byzantine Catholic minority. I need to get a life.   )

Regarding 'Full House' (never watched it), was John Stamos' character Greek like the actor probably is?

Sex on screen can arouse the passions in a way that violence usually doesn't. A guy watching somebody get killed onscreen isn't usually going to be inflamed with bloodlust, but watching a woman having sex will quite likely induce lustful feelings in him.

True.

*Balkan; OK, I get it.

[Fr. George]

Yes, Jesse Cotsopoulos (Stamos) was Greek, and I think they had a supposedly Greek (and maybe Orthodox) wedding.  I can't remember the details.

[suzannes]

The Greta Garbo version of Anna Karennina has a pretty accurate looking Orthodox wedding (Levin and Kitty), and Anna's son has an icon in his room, and wears a baptismal cross.  Interesting that 1930's Hollywood managed to get these things right.

A slightly different take on this subject: NOT that I'm suggesting anyone go rent this movie during Lent, but if sometime you want to check out a truely wacko, crazy film, try John Boorman's Excorcist II, where Richard Burton (as a Catholic priest), goes to a Coptic monastery in Ethiopia is quite the viewing experience!  Now, I'm *very* dubious that anything show is authenticly Coptic, but it's so weird that I've remembered it for years.  If you want a "sooooooo bad it's good" movie to watch with your friends, this is it.  (I'm not even going to get started on the tap-dancing Linda Blair and James Earl Jones as the voice of a giant locust...)

There was an Orthodox character on NYPD Blue, but I never got into watching that show.  

[Meekle]

Home Alone. The main theme isn't Orthodox, but right before eating the mac and cheese, he crossed himself EO style  

Also, Hunting for Red October and K-19 The Widowmaker have some Orthodox things.

I think i have some others, I can't remember, but I will post if I do.

[Thomas]

The Russian Movie Andre Rublev was full of Orthodoxy, beautiful scenes and explained  Rublev's statement that he would not paint the Judgement because of its vision of hell---he said the average Russian of his time had only to step from the heaven of the church to the hell outside its door. The movie shows this vividly.

In Christ,
Thomas

[The young fogey]

There was an Orthodox character on 'NYPD Blue', but I never got into watching that show.

I didn't watch the show but remember the lovely Sharon Lawrence and that her character (who was married to Dennis Franz's Sipowicz) had a Greek name.

On 'St Elsewhere' there was a 'big fat Greek wedding'-like story in which Dr Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jnr) married an ethnic Greek but didn't convert (I don't think that issue ever came up). IIRC the church and priest were accurately depicted for a change.

K-19 did indeed have a subtle Orthodox detail in it.

[QuoVadis]

Theres a really nice film I've got called "The Tale of a Nightingale"- Kori  (young girl) Maria the nun. It's surprisingly in english with greek subtitles!!! The actors are all or mostly greek. It features a beautiful young lady playing the part of St. Maria (apparently) a disciple of St. Patro Kosmas of Aitolos. The costuming is authentically greek/turkish (for the pasha) and it is set in a beautiful monastery in Greece/Cyprus.

It's called tale of nightingale because a nightingale is featured in the movie chirping away every time Maria has a calling from God...

This sounds like a beautiful movie that I'd love to see.  Where did you buy the video from?

[montalban]

I had a screenplay in progress which I was going to "pitch" to various Hollywood directors for a movie based on Kosovo and the Battle of Kosovo 1389.  It was to be a cross between Braveheart and the Passion of the Christ! ÂÂ

If you ever decide to make movies... consider the Battle of Kosovo as a great Orthodox story!

I'd like to see these stories be told. There's a film called "Ararat" which deals with the massacres of Armenians, I've got it on DVD, but I've only seen it half the way through so far. It's not really religious, though they touch upon the issue that the Armenians are Christian, but they're aiming for a difference on race

[montalban]

Home Alone. The main theme isn't Orthodox, but right before eating the mac and cheese, he crossed himself EO style

That's well spotted!

[Timos]

Quo Vadis, as I've stated in my previous post on this thread, a Coptic bookstore nearby sells some EO movies. If I knew the source I would buy a good quality version of it.

In the original Exorcist, the priest doing the exorcising is Greek Catholic although he is neither Melkite nor Arab. I found that strange. He did not seem particularly greek to me. He seemed rather very Anglo-Saxon or French. The only greek I see is the demon (in the form of his mother)  crying for him "Dimmi Dimmi"- which if it was real his mother would've probably crucified him for leaving Orthodoxy- not thatr I have an "axe to grind" with Catholicism particularly other than the usual stuff.

Strangely enough, in the movie Ararat, they show an Armenian village priest walking about, and feature some religious choral liturgical music in the background, especially when the mother is hugging her son telling him never to forget his identity and faith- that was my favourite part of the movie. Also, the guy who plays the main character as an adult (with the curly hair looking for all the answers) is really greek and not armenian. This movie doesn't show enough of the people's faith, more of their ethnciity- there's even a sex scene between the main character and his girlfriend. No worries montalban- its very quick and undetailed.

A documentary on a history channel couple weeks ago showed the regin of Ivan the Terrible and portrayed Russian Orthodoxy like this wacko eastern christian-bhuddist mysticism.

[Psalti Boy]

The Greta Garbo version of Anna Karennina has a pretty accurate looking Orthodox wedding (Levin and Kitty), and Anna's son has an icon in his room, and wears a baptismal cross.  Interesting that 1930's Hollywood managed to get these things right.

A slightly different take on this subject: NOT that I'm suggesting anyone go rent this movie during Lent, but if sometime you want to check out a truely wacko, crazy film, try John Boorman's Excorcist II, where Richard Burton (as a Catholic priest), goes to a Coptic monastery in Ethiopia is quite the viewing experience!  Now, I'm *very* dubious that anything show is authenticly Coptic, but it's so weird that I've remembered it for years.  If you want a "sooooooo bad it's good" movie to watch with your friends, this is it.  (I'm not even going to get started on the tap-dancing Linda Blair and James Earl Jones as the voice of a giant locust...)

There was an Orthodox character on NYPD Blue, but I never got into watching that show. ÂÂ

On NYPD Blue there was a female ADA named Sylvia, who was Greek Orthodox.  Her & Sipowitz got married in a Greek Church.  They had a son named Theo.  Later on she was killed I think in a shootout in a courthouse.

[Psalti Boy]

(I'm not trying to start too many threads, but I've been thinking about this)

A great many films we see have a Catholic/Protestant theme to them. I'm a great horror film buff, and it's always a Catholic priest that's featured fighting vampires, or performing some great task - or someone's gone to the Catholic church to take holy water and implements to fight off the vampire.

Maybe I'm just thinking aloud

Which brings me to something else I have been wondering about.  Why is it that whenever a news program discusses something about Christianity you never see an Orthodox Priest or Heirarch interviewed or involved in the discussion?  Are we not invited to speak our mind or is it that we avoid the press.  As a former member of the press in NYC I can understand reluctance to get involved, but if we want to grow as a faith in the US we need to get out more.  After the September 11th tragedy I was proud as an Orthodox Christian to see Archbishop Demetrios at Ground Zero and at the memorial services.  I also understand that GOARCH has some connection with the Hallmark channel.  Why can't we (all Orthodox) get more air time??  While flipping the channels I see some of the great programming on TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network.  Why can't we have a network??  If all the jurisdictions would be able to pool our talent and resources I think it can be done.  I await your comments.

Psalti Boy

[Elisha]

I just added "The Mission" to my NetFlix queue on a suggestion from a fellow Orthodox.

[Pravoslavbob]

A documentary on a history channel couple weeks ago showed the regin of Ivan the Terrible and portrayed Russian Orthodoxy like this wacko eastern christian-bhuddist mysticism.

You mean that's not right?!!!!  Oh oh.....

[Pravoslavbob]

I just added "The Mission" to my NetFlix queue on a suggestion from a fellow Orthodox.

IMHO, well worth watching.

[Pravoslavbob]

Dr Zhivago has two Orthodox scenes: Zhivago's mother's burial towards the beginning and Lara going to Confession. The latter doesn't make the church look good IMO as the priest blames Lara for what happened when Komorovsky was forcing himself on her (and in one scene essentially rapes her). Bias alert: Pasternak criticised the government but was a moderate Communist himself.

Oh yes, but it's such a wonderful, heartbreaking journey into the Russian soul and the tragedy of (particularly post-revolutionary) Russian life...such a sad film but I loved it so much.  

[Pravoslavbob]

The Russian Movie Andre Rublev was full of Orthodoxy, beautiful scenes and explained  Rublev's statement that he would not paint the Judgement because of its vision of hell---he said the average Russian of his time had only to step from the heaven of the church to the hell outside its door. The movie shows this vividly.

An astonishing film.

[Bizzlebin]

And by the time Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, the area he knew in Transylvania was peopled largely by Germans, not Romanians, so they wouldn't have been Orthodox, never mind that the real mediæval Dracula was a sometime Orthodox. (I think he was a born one who became Roman Catholic for some reason.)

As I recall, Vlad converted to Catholicism after they told him it was ok to impale people, as long as the victims were enemies of Rome.

[jmbejdl]

In the modern (two part if I remember correctly) television drama of Dr. Zhivago there was a mostly authentic looking Orthodox wedding scene as well as a funeral. I can recall being rather puzzled as to why the groom was standing on the left rather than the right but I don't know enough about Russian tradition to know if this is wrong there as it is in Romania. (I once got dressed down by a babusca for standing on the wrong side of the church in Romania and I guess that pre-communist Russian churches would have been just as traditional about such things as modern Romanian village churches are).

The young fogey,

You are right that Vlad Tepes was born Orthodox and later converted to Roman Catholicism. This was a political move in an attempt to get western help against the Turks. The help never came and he certainly lapsed from Roman Catholicism (he actually nailed hats to the heads of Ppapal representatives at one point!) I believe that he actually died reconciled to the Orthodox Church and he is apparently buried in a Wallachian (Tara Romaneasca) monastery.

You are, however, quite wrong about the 19th century ethnic makeup of Transylvania. The majority of peasants were always Romanian and the majority of aristocrats Hungarian. There were large numbers of Germans but they were by no means the majority and were concentrated in the seven Saxon border towns (such as Brasov) from which the German name for Transylvania (Siebenburgen) derives. In any case, whilst Vlad Tepes, like his cousin Stefan cel Mare, was raised in Transylvania (both were close to the family of Iancu de Hunedoara) after usurpations in their own principalities, Vlad was not Transylvanian but from Tara Romaneasca, which is the province of which he was Voievod.

SouthSerb,

I've always thought that a great topic for a film (and in some ways similar to your Battle of Kosovo idea) would be the rise of St. Stefan cel Mare and his defence of Moldova against Turkish, Hungarian and Tartar invasions. I actually have started, but I can't see myself finishing it this side of retirement, a historical novel on the subject in which I hope to emphasise the religious aspects as well as the political/military. For that reason I doubt it will ever get a publisher in the west, but who knows?

James

[Νεκτάριος]

In the first season of the TV show 24 the hostiles are Serb gangsters also accused of crimes in BiH and Kosovo - Orthodoxy at its finest.  

[The Iambic Pen]

I starting watching the movie Ostrov again last night.  It is a very excellent movie, and I highly recommend it.  It got me thinking about the portrayal of Orthodoxy in film.  Does anyone know of any other films where Orthodoxy is portrayed, whether positively or negatively?  Two I can think of are The Fiddler on the Roof (the mother goes inside the Orthodox church building and speaks with the priest about her daughter) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which contains both a baptism and a wedding inside an Orthodox church).  Fiddler on the Roof portrayed Orthodoxy as something very strange and foreign, while My Big Fat Greek Wedding portrayed it as more of a Greek cultural thing.  Does anyone have anything to add?

[PrincessMommy]

The movie Andrey Rublev is one that comes to mind.  The Deer Hunter has an Orthodox wedding in it.

[_Seraphim_]

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which contains both a baptism and a wedding inside an Orthodox church).

Actually, the outdoor church shots are of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
but the indoor church shots are of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I'm glad such secular activities didn't occur in an actual Orthodox parish.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Not a movie, but in an episode of Seinfeld George converts to the Latvian Orthodox Church in order to date an Orthodox woman, while Kramer unwittingly seduces a nun. The Church in that episode is portrayed more as naïve than anything else.

[_Seraphim_]

Does anyone have anything to add?

I know there's more movies, but I can't remember at the moment.  As far as TV series... I remember an episode of Friends where they're all in Las Vegas and need a minister to perform a wedding.  They can't find one, but then an old "Orthodox priest" (i.e. random actor) comes scurrying by and they ask him to do the service.  He says he can't unless they're Orthodox.  Rachel responds with something like: "Oh, yeah, they're Greek... um, this is Mr. Acidophilus." 

[_Seraphim_]

The Church in that episode is portrayed more as naïve than anything else.

Sounds like the "priest" in Friends.

[Riddikulus]

There's a classic Russian film "Ivan the Terrible", from the 1930s, made during Stalin's time. It's a great film for anyone learning Russian to watch, because the actors delivered their lines so ponderously.  Anyway, there are Church scenes which I can't remember specifically because it was some time ago that I saw the film.

[TinaG]

What a timely topic as I was just going to post on something similar after watching a movie this week that had an Armenian Orthodox wedding ceremony in it.  Has anyone seen Sideways with Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church?  Definitely a grown-up movie.  If you haven't seen it, it's a buddy road movie through the California wine country that takes place the week before one of the character's marriage to an Armenian fiancee.  There's plenty of debauchery to go around, particularly one scene.  In the end, there's a very nice wedding scene at a beautiful church somewhere in California.  The depiction of the marriage was respectful, and was performed by an Armenian priest (I assume the priest of that church).   Which brings me to my question.  Considering the subject matter, would you say the priests are condoning the behavior by participation in the film or does the priest have any idea what they are agreeing to?  I'm sure after the priest saw this movie, he might have been thinking "Oh no, what is my Bishop going to say!"

[GabrieltheCelt]

Not a movie, but in an episode of Seinfeld George converts to the Latvian Orthodox Church in order to date an Orthodox woman, while Kramer unwittingly seduces a nun. The Church in that episode is portrayed more as naïve than anything else.

I remember that episode.  Kramer accidently seduces the nun because he has, as the Latvian priest says, the Kavorka.  From the Urban online dictionary:

Kavorka-
(Pronounced Kah-vor-kah) The Kavorka is a word which originated from the Latvian Orthodox. It means "the lure of the animal". It is described as a curse, making someone irresistible to anyone of the opposite sex, even attractive to the same sex, as people will be naturally drawn to you. It's a heavy responsibility to have to be imposed with everyone's lusty wants, hence, it's consideration as a curse. People will want to be with you, be like you, be you.

"I got the Kavorka, Jerry!  I'm dangerous, I'm very Dangerous!"

[ytterbiumanalyst]

The Kavorka is a word which originated from the Latvian Orthodox. It means "the lure of the animal".

Oh, I think it originated from the mind of Larry David. Now that's dangerous!

[GabrieltheCelt]

Oh, I think it originated from the mind of Larry David. Now that's dangerous!

Probably so.  He's pretty funny.

[Orthodox11]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMUfWZk3sHs

[The Iambic Pen]

Thanks for the information!  I imagine that Hollywood, as a general rule, is fairly ignorant about Orthodoxy.  Then again, they often seem fairly ignorant about Christianity of any type.

[GabrieltheCelt]

Thanks for the information!  I imagine that Hollywood, as a general rule, is fairly ignorant about Orthodoxy.  Then again, they often seem fairly ignorant about Christianity of any type.

Yeah, on the one hand, it's always kind of exciting to see us on the 'bigscreen', but on the other hand it's usually a big let down.

[JAWS_Thomas]

I didn't see the movie so I don't know what the context is, but in the trailer for the movie Hitman there is a brief scene where you see orthodox priests vested in phelonion and epitrahelion with their skufya's on.

[Heorhij]

"Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" (also known in the US as "The Wild Horses of Fire"), by Serhiy Paradzhanov, a wonderful Ukrainian film director (died in the early 1990's). The motion picture was released in 1964. The action takes place in a small, poor Ukrainian village lost in the Carpathian mountains, some time in the early or mid-1800s. There are some great scenes shot in the small, but very beautiful wooden village Orthodox church. You can see the clergy in liturgical vestments, censing, icons, lighting of the candles, a choir singing "Most Holy Theotokos, Save Us" etc. All in gorgeous colors, extremely artsy and simltaneously realistic.

[Sarah]

The beginning of a James Bond movie (I think ) depicted Orthodoxy--can't remember which one or what was portrayed.

[Riddikulus]

The beginning of a James Bond movie (I think ) depicted Orthodoxy--can't remember which one or what was portrayed.

"Dracula" has a wedding scene, where Jonathan Harker and Mina get married.

[ialmisry]

"Dracula" has a wedding scene, where Jonathan Harker and Mina get married.

There's also the Church scene in the beginning.

Church scenes are in the background of "Dr. Zhivago," and "Nicholas and Alexander" (now SS....)

[Riddikulus]

There's also the Church scene in the beginning.

Oh, I had forgotten. Years since I saw the film. I must watch it again, sometime.

edited... Oh yes, the flashback scene!

[minasoliman]

"Dracula" has a wedding scene, where Jonathan Harker and Mina get married.

the butt of all Mina jokes...I joined this facebook group called "Hi! My name is Mina.  Yes, I'm a guy."  It comes to no surprise that all the male Mina's are Coptic.  But I remember in high school a substitute teacher thought I was bluffing when I said "Here" for the name "Mina."

Sorry for the sidetrack...carry on (maybe there should be a film about that too...hmmm)

[Riddikulus]

^^

[Credo.InDeum]

I remember seeing a film (on TV) about the rise of anti-christ where a miracle child is born in the east - one of the Greek islands - and received as a messianic figure. The child is baptised in an Orthodox Church and many members of the congregation are healed of their diseases but alas only temporarily. Needless to say the child turns out to be the anti-christ. However the Orthodox people did make the sign of the cross in the eastern fashion - head-heart, right-left.

I can't remember the film's title.

[PrincessMommy]

Yeah, on the one hand, it's always kind of exciting to see us on the 'bigscreen', but on the other hand it's usually a big let down.

I'm of the opinion that it's best that Hollywood remain clueless about Orthodoxy, given the way they treat the Catholic church and other Christian traditions.

[EkhristosAnesti]

One of the greatest Egyptian actors, Adel Imam (a Muslim) has been preparing a film entitled "Hassan and Marcos" which seems to be aimed at easing Muslim-Coptic tension. I can't make much of it, but it seems to be about an Imam and a Coptic priest who pretend to be Christian and Muslim, respectively, for the sake of protecting their families (against Muslim extremists who oppose the Imam on account of his opposition to extremism, and who oppose the Coptic priest on account of his being, well, a Coptic priest...I think)...or something like that Here is a short trailer of the film with english subtitles...maybe someone else can make more of it than I can:

http://www.matigi.tv/action/viewvideo/210/Hasan_And_Marcos_Teaser/

I will speak to some friends and relatives about this and update this thread with a more accurate description of the film (which is yet to be released).

[EkhristosAnesti]

I just found this online article from Watani which sheds some clearer light on the matter:

What happens when terrorist threats are sent to religious figures or clerics, forcing them to flee for their lives?

The subject is the topic of the film Hassan and Morqos—Hassan is a common Muslim name while Morqos is a common Coptic name—directed by Ramy Imam and written by Youssef Maaty, the shooting of which has just begun. The film brings together for the first time two masters of Egyptian cinema, international film star Omar Sharif and top comedian Adel Imam, joined by Libliba, Hanaa’ al-Shorbagui, Youssef Dawoud and a host of Egyptian actors and actresses. The story line attempts to tackle the issue of national unity and the war against terrorism through the meeting of a Christian Theology professor and a Muslim Imam, both of whom are fleeing, under disguise, from the face of terrorist threats.

The original story depicted a priest but, when the filmmakers asked for the opinion of Pope Shenouda III he said it was impossible for an ordained priest to relinquish his priestly attire under any circumstance, so the character was changed into a layman, a theology professor.

The move by the filmmakers to consult the pope aroused controversy, with some criticising it as sanctioning church censorship. But, Maati told Watani, it was unreasonable to make a film on a Christian religious figure, written by a Muslim, directed by a Muslim and depicted by Muslim actors and actresses, without consulting the Church on the credibility of the details involved.

At a recent press conference held in Cairo by the film producer Emad El-Din Adeeb, he said that this was the first time in more than 50 years of Egyptian cinema that such a big production is dedicated to fighting terrorism and calling for unity between Muslims and Christians. “This is what drove me to produce the film,” he said.

On his part Adel Imam said that Pope Shenouda III greatly welcomed the film, while Omar Sharif said the film denounces all perpetrators of sectarian strife, whether Muslim or Christian. He expressed enthusiasm at working with Imam for the first time.

Source: http://www.wataninet.com/article_en.asp?ArticleID=17818

[SamB]

And `Omar Shareef, too.  Give us more information as you get; it looks interesting.  The trailer isn't too clear on who is really who.  The beginning seems to show that Shareef's and Imaam's original stations are imaam and priest respectively (they are alone and seem to be praying naturally according to their own traditions), and towards the end, we see that Shareef is the Christian Marqus, but I am not convinced that the opening scenes were portraying the two individuals in their disguises.  Perhaps one of the two scenarios takes place in the imagination since Shareef suggests افرض انك كنت مسيحي زيّي

[Michał Kalina]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsZXcj3ihho

The Simpsons.

[Achronos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsZXcj3ihho

The Simpsons.

LOL nice.

[Carl Kraeff (Second Chance)]

Here are some very good Russian movies:

The Admiral (about Admiral Kolchack)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_(film)

Ostrov (The Island) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Island_(2006_film)

The Romanovs: An Imperial Family
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Romanovs:_A_Crowned_Family

Tsar (2009) (probably R rated for extreme violence and cruelty)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar_(film)

Andrei Rublev
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Rublev_(film)

[Ansgar]

I once watched Tsar with some really bad subtitles. Pretty good movie.

[dcommini]

There was a documentary on Tchaikovsky (BBC IIRC) that had a few scenes in and Orthodox church.

Also the Expendables II had a scene that took place in an Orthodox church (although no priests or monks were present).

[Michał Kalina]

Babylon V:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=uvmtHGwRSuQ#t=15s

[JamesR]

The show Friends featured a scene on one episode where a wedding was brewing, and the original minister was AWOL, so the replacement was a Greek Orthodox Priest with a big beard. They portrayed him more as a silly, jolly guy.

[Punch]

Then there is one of my favorite "Orthodox" movies: Hitman

[Putnik Namernik]

In the five year engagement there is a scene where a couple chooses among different religious and nonreligious methods of being married...among their options were a Christian and an extreme Christian priest (dressed like an Orthodox priest)...

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OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Free-For-All > Religious Topics (Moderator: Carl Kraeff (Second Chance)) > Topic: Orthodoxy in movies