Divine Awakenings

Spirituality is maybe the last taboo of the modern age. Often questioned in this era of science and logical objectivity, the sway that metaphysical philosophy still has over our society is nonetheless as potent as ever.

Calgary Cinematheque invites you to a provocative selection of visionary, sometimes intense and magical films. Each one showcases a different aspect of world religion to illustrate both a sense of the divine, but also a sense of humanity. A humanity that often creates its entire social structure around what it believes. 

Art by Mitch Malyk.

Series Films

 

Samsara (2023)
Directed by Lois Patiño
May 2, 2024

In the jungles of Laos, an elderly woman named Mon prepares for the end of her years by listening to a Buddhist monk read The Tibetan Book Of The Dead. What follows is a symphonic and cinematic voyage to the Bardo, the transitional realm between life and death. Director Lois Patino utilizes extraordinary, shapeshifting and chimeric visions of the lushness of nature and immersive soundscapes to create a fully captivating and visionary journey to the next life. 

Devi (1960)
Directed by Satyajit Ray
May 9, 2024

One of the great masterworks of director Satyajit Ray, Devi uses the powerful and expressionist techniques of a master filmmaker to question the orthodoxy of an entire society. A wealthy devotee of Kali (the goddess of change and death) becomes consumed by the idea that his daughter in law (an incandescent Sharmila Tagore) is the incarnation of the Mother Goddess. Convinced she has healing powers, he encourages the local population to worship the young girl, leading to dramatic and profound consequences for both her family and the wider community. 

The Rapture (1991)
Directed by Michael Tolkin
May 23, 2024

Starring Mimi Rogers in a performance hailed by Marxist film critic Robin Wood as “one of the greatest in the history of Hollywood cinema,” The Rapture is a terrifying and impassioned theistic provocation in an age of post-religiosity. This film will challenge viewers, leaving nonbelievers grappling with dark theological questions and believers questioning the foundations of their faith.

Devi (1960)