In 1995, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications released Alcuni film importanti (Some Important Films), a list of 45 films divided into the categories of religion, values, and art. These films were recommended for viewing by Pope John Paul II and John Patrick Foley.
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications released a list of 45 films to mark the centennial of Auguste and Louis Lumière's display of their films. These 45 films were divided into the categories of religion, values, and art. [1] This list was released under the title Alcuni film importanti (Some Important Films). [2] President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications John Patrick Foley, president of the Vatican Film Library Enrique Planas, and twelve experts on film, movie librarians, and academics compiled the list. [2] [3] [4] Pope John Paul II recommended that these films be watched. [5]
Foley stated that this list showed that great films could be made without pandering to violent or phonographic elements. He stated that the church wanted viewers to be more critical of films rather than passively consuming them. [3]
The list features films that contain elements critical of religion and the Catholic Church. The Mission features missionaries being undermined by a church leader. [3] Franco Zeffirelli was critical of the list for not including any of his films. [4]
Florent Cardon, writing for Aleteia , proposed that the Vatican should update the list for 2025, and include films like A Hidden Life and Of Gods and Men . [2]