Films have a unique way of revealing ourselves to ourselves… they provide perspective on the human condition in a way that has made cinema the most powerful medium for conveying big ideas, and films have been doing this for as long as they have existed as an art form, but only a select few have succeeded at it. We have made a decent selection of modern films about self-development.
Turin Horse (2011, Bela Tarr)
The plot is extremely simple: a farmer lives with his daughter, they have a horse, and they do the same everyday work every day. If we talk about ways of presenting thoughts, then there are not so many of them, but through this relative simplicity the director seeks to show a different level of significance.
Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds (2012, Daniel Schmidt)
The director bravely creates his own inspired world in which he commands our attention, pleases our senses and challenges established opinions.
Mulholland Drive (2001, David Lynch)
While we admit our inability to understand its meaning, we cannot help but notice that the film speaks to us with stunning power. Something happens in the head that allows us to relate to what is happening at the deepest level.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017, Denis Villeneuve)
The nature of consciousness and personality, the personal ego – all this is explored against the backdrop of futuristic sci-fi scenery. The big questions are asked: What does it mean to have a soul? Does the soul make a person a person?
Into Great Silence (2005, Philip Groening)
This unique film is, above all, a celebration of silence, and for the viewer it is the equivalent of a guided meditation. As he watches the monks go about their daily activities, he lets the silence speak for itself.
Silence (2016, Martin Scorsese)
Two young Jesuit priests are volunteered to travel to Japan from Portugal in search of their mentor, who, according to rumors, has renounced his faith and embraced the culture and religion whose representatives he was going to convert.
Samsara (2011, Ron Fricke)
This stunningly beautiful documentary is remarkable for both its breadth and honesty. Its creators take a close look at the wide range of human activity – good, bad, evil.
First Reformed (2017, Paul Schrader)
The film’s main strength lies in its ability to accurately portray the age-old existential struggle of the searching soul, while at the same time attempting to rise above it. It is imbued with many motives: faith, doubt, forgiveness.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter… and spring again (2003, Kim Ki-duk)
A Buddhist monk and his disciple live in a monastery on a beautiful lake. They lead a simple ascetic life, living like this through spring, summer, autumn, winter… and spring again.
The Tree of Life (2011, Terrence Malick)
We see the hardships and hardships of a small Texas family through the eyes of one of the sons, reflecting on his youth. The dramas of family life and growing up are shown by factions within the powerful forces of nature, the vastness of the universe and the complexity of evolution. One of the key roles in the film was played by Brad Pitt, who also acted as the producer of the film.