Guest Post: Jennifer Fischer, Co-Founder, Think Ten Media Group
Big Sonia follows the life of Sonia Warshawski, a Jewish teenager living in Poland when the German army invades in the 1930s. Her father and brother were shot, her sister disappeared; she and her mother became slave laborers and were finally deported to a death camp. Now in her nineties, Sonia is a vibrant woman who speaks to students and prison inmates about her story of unimaginable suffering, but also of hope, of resilience, and of a refusal to hate. Free curriculum resources from Journeys in Film are available here.
Rebel Hearts is a powerful documentary that highlights the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who bravely stood up to the patriarchy of the Catholic Church in the 1960s: fighting for equality, their livelihoods, and their own freedom against an all-powerful Cardinal who sought to keep them in their place. Their bold acts of faith, defiance and activism turned the Church upside-down, helping to reshape our society in ways that continue to resonate more than fifty years later. From marching in Selma in 1965 to the Women’s March in 2018, they challenged the notion of what a nun and a woman were supposed to be — and they continue to take a stand today. The nuns also led with joy and love! In teaching religious literacy, it is important to highlight the stories of individuals who are strong in their faith and yet unafraid of challenging religious institutions. Journeys in Film created a curriculum guide for this film that encourages students to explore: U.S. History, change, religious institutions, art and more.
Big Sonia is available through PBS in some areas, through Apple TV+ and on Kanopy. Rebel Hearts is available through Discovery Plus as well as other rent/purchase platforms.
The Story of God with Morgan Freeman is a National Geographic documentary (available through Disney Plus) highlighting the world’s five major religions, including Islam. Journeys in Film’s curriculum guide includes lessons for each of the five religions. A discussion guide is available as well.
Narrative (Fictional) Films for Teaching Religious Literacy
An American Tail was one of my favorite movies as a kid. It is also a film about Jewish immigration. The heroic mouse in the film, Fievel Mousekoewitz, comes to the U.S. with his family from the Ukraine. So, it is also a film that offers openings for talking about current events in the Ukraine, as well as the history of the Ukraine and its Jewish community. Teach with Movies has resources available for this film.
Gandhi is an award-winning biopic that tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi’s life and the non-violent resistance movement he led to free India from the British Empire. The film offers opportunities for students to learn about nonviolent action, Hinduism, and Islam. Various educational guides for the film are available online.
Spirited Away is a beautiful, animated film from Hayao Miyazaki that captivates young and old alike and features portrayals of many Japanese folk traditions, including Shrine Shinto motifs and perspectives. Many individuals have used the film as a jumping off point for learning more about Shintoism, an ancient Japanese religion. Film Education and Into Film both have resources available for this movie.
The Cup is a beautiful film that tells the heartwarming story of two young Tibetan refugees who arrive at a monastery-in-exile in India and quickly disrupt its serene atmosphere because of their love for soccer. Orgyen, one of the boy refugees, is a soccer fanatic who is determined to see the finals of the World Cup. He sets out to organize the rental of a TV set for the monastery. The enterprise becomes a test of solidarity, resourcefulness, and friendship for the students and monks. Journeys in Film’s curriculum guide for this film features a lesson on Buddhism.
Wadjda is an inspiring narrative film directed by Haifaa al Mansour, Saudi Arabia’s first woman director. The film follows Wadjda and her desire and struggle to earn enough money to buy a bicycle. Typically, boys and men ride bicycles not girls, but Wadjda is ready to change that! This film highlights various ways that different individuals practice their faith. Journeys in Film created a free curriculum guide for this film, which includes a lesson on the Quran. Wadjda is available on Amazon.
Jen Fischer is a writer, film producer, and teaching artist whose work focuses on highlighting shared human experiences to cultivate empathy and understanding. Her films have screened across the United States and abroad and have been featured by NBCLatino, ABC, Univision, Fusion, NBCBLK, Vice News, etc. with her film “THE wHOLE” premiering at Amnesty International’s 50th Anniversary Human Rights Conference. In addition to Video Librarian, you can also read her work in Edutopia, Ms. Magazine, and Parents Magazine, among other sites. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Journeys in Film. She has also developed curriculum for LA’s BEST, the Metta Center for Nonviolence, and AcadeMe+ and has worked in conjunction with the Outreach Center for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, where she received her M.A. She holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. You can find her on Twitter @IndieJenFischer.
