French Priests, Mongolian Lamas: CT Entertainment

[Also: Recommendations from Christianity Today] Also: Recommendations from Christianity Today | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [Donate]( [Christianity Today Entertainment Newsletter]( Friday, September 22, 2017 French Priests, Mongolian Lamas Each week CT's critics offer suggestions for art and entertainment they found encouraging, valuable, or reflective of the good, the true, and the beautiful in God's world. Not every suggestion is suitable for everyone, and each reader is encouraged to investigate ratings and content warnings for each suggestion. Have suggestions of your own? [Let us know](mailto:tolsen@christianitytoday.com?subject=CT%20Entertainment%20suggestion). —Ted Olsen, Editorial Director Mongolian Ping Pong | Film Bilike, a 7-year-old Mongolian boy who lives in the middle of nowhere, finds something very interesting floating in the river one day. He retrieves it, and brings it back to family and friends to try to determine what it is. Bilike thinks it's a bird's egg. His wise old grandmother says it's a glowing pearl sent by the spirits upriver. His buddies aren't so sure, so they head into town to ask the lamas at the local monastery The lamas have no clue either. The little orb— a ping pong ball—is the star of this remarkable little 2004 film, chock full of beauty (the grasslands, the mountains, the people), character, and humor. The Boston Herald called it "the Tom Sawyer of the steppes," and it's true. This gem, which views the world through the eyes of curious children, is a delight in every way imaginable. (In Mongolian with English subtitles) — Mark Moring [Available on [Fandor](] Diary of a Country Priest | Film Paul Schrader's First Reformed has created a lot of buzz after generating positive reviews in response to screenings at Venice, Toronto, and Telluride. We should have a full review of that film available shortly at the [Christianity Today Movies and TV]( web page. If you can't catch his film during its run around the festival circuit, I recommend seeking out (or revisiting) one of its obvious inspirations: Robert Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest. Based on a novel by George Bernanos, the film features one man's attempts to keep and live his faith. Much of the tension and meaning comes from the contrast between the words he writes in his diary and the inferences we (or his parishioners) might make from just observing his actions. To hear more about how Bresson and others use what Schrader calls the "Transcendental Style," check out [this brief video essay]( from the director. Bresson's film and Schrader's comments should enhance your appreciation of First Reformed once when it becomes more widely available for viewing. — [Kenneth R. Morefield]( [DVD and Filmstruck Streaming] ['Twin Peaks: The Return' Gets Cosmic Conflict Disturbingly Right]( David Lynch's cult-classic revival is exactly as imaginative—and as uncomfortable—as it always needed to be. Jeffrey Overstreet ['It' Is Big-Budget Horror with a Surprising Amount of Heart]( The latest Stephen King adaptation's success has more to do with the friendship it celebrates than the scares it delivers. Cameron McAllister Music [Sufjan Stevens' 'Planetarium' Charts a God-Sustained Cosmos]( The singer-songwriter's latest collaboration sets a distinctly biblical course through the Created Order. Casey Spinks [In the 'DuckTales' Reboot, Family Remains Scrooge's Riskiest Adventure]( As the new Disney series reminds us, 'Family is nothing but trouble.' That's exactly what makes it valuable. Geoffrey Reiter Follow Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Google+]( [RSS]( [Subscribe to this newsletter]( IN THE MAGAZINE [Current Issue]( [Facing Our Legacy of Lynching]( [Germans Are Welcoming Refugees as a Way to Honor Luther's Legacy]( [Bringing Back Baylor]( [View Full Issue]( [Subscribe Now]( More from Christianity Today [Jessica Leep Fick: Let's Rewrite the Rules for Women's Evangelism]( Why the 'Beautiful Feet' author says it's time we saw disciple-making as a woman's calling, too. [How Do You Solve a Theological Problem Like Maria?]( Record hurricane season challenges believers in paradise to trust God amid life's literal storms. [Online Tribalism Threatens Women's Ministry]( From our special issue: reflections on discipleship in a fractured age. Related CT Newsletters [The Galli Report]( Weekly must-reads from the editor of CT. [Sign Up Now]( [CT Connection]( The official newsletter of the global media ministry. [Sign Up Now]( [Christianity Today Entertainment]( Delivered free via email to subscribers weekly. [Subscribe]( | [Email Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Advertise]( | [Subscribe to CT]( You are currently subscribed as: {EMAIL} Copyright ©2017 [ChristianityToday.org]( Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.