Cinema Divina

September 12, 2025
5 pm Potluck | 6pm Film and Discussion

Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Kiril Lakota is set free after twenty years as a political prisoner in Siberia. He is brought to Rome by Father David Telemond, a troubled young priest who befriends him. Once at the Vatican, he is immediately given an audience with the Pope, who elevates him to Cardinal Priest. The world is on the brink of war due to a Chinese-Soviet feud made worse by a famine caused by trade restrictions brought against China by the U.S. When the Pontiff suddenly dies, Lakota’s genuine character and unique life experience move the College of Cardinals to elect him as the new Pope. But Pope Kiril I must now deal with his own self-doubt, the struggle of his friend Father Telemond, who is under scrutiny for his beliefs, and find a solution to the crisis in China.

October 10, 2025
7 pm Film and Discussion

As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business. The movie explores ambition, relationships, and the impact of technology, while also considering its portrayal of morality and human connection.

November 14, 2025
7 pm Film and Discussion

In 2035, a technophobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity. The movie’s exploration of artificial intelligence prompts questions about creation, responsibility, and the potential for machines to mimic human traits, including the capacity for disobedience and even violence.

January 9, 2026 Cancelled
7 pm Film and Discussion

12 Angry Men stands as one of the greatest films of all time: I have personally seen the film upwards of eight or nine times at this point and not once has it gotten old or stale. Those who wish to study or make films would find it well worth their while to begin with this one, especially for Lumet’s tight direction and work with cinematographer Kaufman. It’s a simple concept performed at the highest caliber, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of thinking for yourself amidst the cacophony of a world of ambivalent noise.

February 13, 2026 Cancelled
7 pm Film and Discussion

Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer. Some have noted the positive portrayal of family, parenthood, and the value of life, particularly in its depiction of a child and pointing out the film’s emphasis on the domestic family dynamics and the willingness of the characters to sacrifice for one another, which resonate with biblical parallels.

March 13, 2026 Cancelled
7 pm Film and Discussion

Fascinated by morality plays and the haunted landscape of America, Joel and Ethan Coen excel at both comedy and tragedy, sometimes in the same film, and even in their bleakest stories, they seek epiphanies about man’s relationship with sin, violence, and the occasional divine intervention. Despite featuring one of the most unnerving villains in the history of cinema, the movie never depicts evil in an attractive light, and though ambiguity always features in the Coen’s storytelling, their allusions to cosmic justice and the possibility of evil vanquished reveal the directors as morally astute filmmakers. No Country for Old Men speaks to a yearning in people’s hearts for evil to be acknowledged, and for good men to shine a light in the darkness, no matter how old they get.

May 8, 2026 Cancelled
7 pm Film and Discussion

When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a web of conspiracies and intrigue that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.