Co-hosts Kenny and MIke review and faithspot the Palme d' Or winning musical drama starring Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, Selena Gomez and directed by Jacques Audiard. Emilie Perez tells the story of two women seeking the freedom to live their lives as they desire without societal biases, expectations, and limitations. Saldana, Gascon, and Gomes jointly won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and all were nominated for Golden Globe Supporting and Best Actress award. The film was nominated for Best Musical or Comedy film. The actresses are also strong contenders for SAG and nominations and the film is expected to be nominated for Best Film.

Faith Spotted:

In the midst of brokeness, societal limitations and judgemental expectations, the resurrection offers the hope and promise of redemption, liberation and new life. With this new life is a call to seek and stand up for righeousness even in the midst of risk and sacrifice.

Mike and Kenny discuss the psychological, political, and spiritual thrilling film starring Ralph Fiennes and directed by Edward Berger. The film is a drama showing all the personal and ecclesiatical drama as the College of Cardinals Conclave to select a new pope. Reflecting society, the College is divided into conservative and liberal factions who are seeking to keep or retake control of the Papacy.

The Dean of the College, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) is charged with the administration of the Conclave. In addition to managing the nuts and bolts of the gathering, Dean Thomas must handle a mysterious and unknown new Cardinal, gossips of malfeasance and personal indiscretion within the College, political intrigue with the voting as well as conflict outside the walls of the Conclave. In addition Lawrence faces doubts about the church and his calling.

Co-starring with Fiennes are Stanley Tucci (Bellini,) John Lithgow ( Tremblay,) and Isabella Rossellini (Sister Agnes.)

Faith Spotted:

The place of humility, specifically to protect against the temptation of pride and power. See Philippians 2, Colossians 3, 1 Peter 5. Certainty in issues of theology is an indication of a lack of humility.

The place of doubt within living faithfully.

Servant Leadership vs. Being Served as Leader.

Kenny and Mike discuss The Substance and spot faith issues reflected in the body horror genre film starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat who won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, The Substance challenges agism and society's unrealistic, double standards of beauty and capability for women as presented through Academy Award winning actress Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) who is fired from her successful workout program on her 50th birthday.

Following her firing , Sparkle takes The Substance, a black market drug that offers an opportunity to experience life via a better and younger version of yourself with whom you must share life, 7 days on and 7 days off in a Substance induced coma. For Sparkle, her better self is Sue (Margaret Qualley.) While Elizabeth and Sue "are one" they are anything but on the same page of the life arrangement required by The Substance. The Substance is Rated R for nudity, language, and strong violence.

Faith Issues:

Accepting and even embracing the reality of differing seaons of life as taught in Ecclesiastes 3.

Resisting the temptation to live for and by earthly standards and treasures. Matthew 6

Living faithfully in and for the future rather than fearfully in and for the past. Jeremiah 29,

Hebrews 11 discusses the substance or confidence of faith in the life and promises of a fuller and better life God desires for and offers us.

Psalm 130, a Song of Ascents offers opportunity to express fear and grief when one goes through seasons of loss and change while maintaining faith in God's redemption.

Psalm 42 and 43 speak of longing for better days from the past and lifting up laments to God yet also putting faith and trust in God's righteousness and vendication.

Quoted by Christ on the cross, Psalm 22 voices the lament of one enduring great suffering and almost losing hope, but ends in faith in God's faithfullness.

Faithspotting Hosts Mike Hatch and Kenny Dickson discuss and spot faith reflected in the AppleTV+ series starring Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Disclaimer is the first television series directed by four time Oscar winning director Alphonso Cuaron and is based on the psychlogical thrilling novel by Renee Knight.

Faith Notes:

Disclaimer depicts the impact impact of unresolved grief and anger that grows into hate, as well as the destructive power of hate fueled revenge. Disclaimer demonstrates the impact of not effectively working through grief and anger. While people process grief in different ways and times, intervention is necessary when one becomes supresses or gets stuck in the mourning and grief process. In a similar way, holding on to anger can lead to destructive consequences to health and relationships. Discalaimer is rated -R- for Language, Sexuality, and depictions of Sexual Violence, and Drug use.

For Christians, faith in the new life assured now and eternally through the resurrection assists persons in the midst of loss and grief. The destructive power of unresolved and unforgiven anger often leads to thoughts or acts of revenge which impacts not only the people directly involved but family, friends, and others who suffer collateral wounds. Forgiveness is commanded by Christ. Forgiveness helps protect and preserve the physicial, psychological, and spiritual health and well-being of individuals directively involved as well as others. Forgiveness ifsoften very difficult, but even when it seems God can work within one to bring them to a state of forgiveness and peace.

Mike and Kenny discuss the wonderful film and spot faith elements reflected in Titus Kaphar's feature length directorial and screenwriting debut. Included in the episode is an indepth conversation with Titus Kaphar. Based on Kaphar's life, Exhibing Forgiveness examines the need and difficulty many face in offering forgiveness. Titus Kaphar is a well known artist whose paintings and sculptures are highly sought after by private collectors and galleries. The forgiving process mirrors Kaphars understanding of art as a way to disrupt past narratives which breaks the power of past events in the present and future.

Faith Issues:

The true nature, difficulty, and process of offering forgiveness.

When one withholds forgiveness, one allows the other to keep power over oneself.

The healing that can come through replacing anger and resentfullness with forgiveness changes the narrative and arc of one's emotions, spirit, and life.

Kenny and Mike discuss Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton's sequel to his 1988 classic horror conference Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton returns as Betelgeuse, the bio-exorcist along with Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara who reprise their roles as Lydia and Delia Deitz. Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci join the cast as Betelgeuse continues his pursuite of Lydia while avoiding his recently reconnected and now murderous ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci.) Kenny also shares some of his experiences at the Venice Film Festival where Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had its world premiere in late August, 2024.

Faith Spotted:

As persons of faith we believe in the promise of new life that is available through grace by faith. Through God's forgiveness we are not bound by the mistakes we make, have made or by our background. As Easter people we believe in restoration and that our true identity is as a beloved child of God. We should not label others or accept the labels others have toward us. The resurrection hope and promise of new life and is not limited to that which we receive in full after we die, but is available in our life and time here.

Faith Spotted II: (Faith issues not mentioned in the podcast.)

The Struggles of both Lydia, and Delia, as well perhaps as Betelgeuse, have by not working through past failure, pain, and loss in life. Though painful, it is in facing, and doing, the grief work and process that we are able to move beyond mourning, pain and loss, and begin the new normal life that God desires for us.

As persons of faith we are called to live and be in the moments of life, whether difficult, exciting, or routine. Each day is a gift and even in the midst of pain or routine, evidence of God's presence and grace abound and offer joy.

Venice Film Festival Photos:

Kenny and Mike talk and spot faith elements in the popular 2000 fim Almost Famous, written / directed by Cameron Crowe, and starring Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Frances McDormand, Phiip Seymour Hoffman, and Anna Paquin. Crowe won an Academy Award for best screenplay.

Faith Spotted:

The place and function of community as a source of accountability and support to help one mature as a person as well as in faith.

The importance of love that serves serves others and brings others together rather than seeking to lift up and serve oneself.

The difficulty but necessary process of letting a loved one experience life, loss, and success rather than keeping strict control over the individual.

Kenny and Mike review and spot faith elements presented in the powerful A24 film Sing Sing, The film is based on the true story of John Divine G Whitfield (Colman Domingo) who was falsely convicted and spent 25 years in Sing Sing prison. While there he co-founded the Rehabilitation Through Arts program where persons who are incarcerated stage theatrical programs. The episode includes interviews Mike and Kenny had with Divine G and director Greg Kwedar.

Faith Elements:

The transformative power of story,

Redemption, Rehabiliation, Repentance and Community.

Kenny and Mike and Faithspotting is hosting a free screening of the film on July 24th at &pm at the AMC Northpark Theaters. Sign up below

https://www.eventcreate.com/e/singsingdallas

John Divine G Whitfield

Greg Kwedar