With the growing trend toward secularism, many Christians now no longer observe the Holy Week like the past generations did. In tropical countries like the Philippines, Lent often coincides with summer and school vacation, which translates into trips to the beach for many Filipino families during the long four-day vacation starting from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday.

However, many still perform the standard Catholic Holy Week rites such as visiting 7 churches, attending the Washing of the Feet Mass, saying the Stations of the Cross devotion and abstaining from meat and fasting.

Some even go to the extreme and have themselves flagellated or even crucified, even if the Philippine Catholic Church frowns on the practice.

Those on the middle ground often opt to stay home rather than go to the beach. They choose this time to reflect on the Easter message that Christ suffered and died on the cross for their sins, but he eventually rose again on the third day.

At the same time, they use this four-day holiday to recharge their spiritual and physical batteries by engaging in some form of recreation such as watching religious or inspiration movies.

For those in that type of Lenten R&R, here are 10 Holy Week movies as suggested by different experts on inspirational cinema.

  • A Man for All Seasons (1966) - Tells the story of Thomas More who said no to King Henry VIII after the king rejected the Catholic Church which refused to allow the monarch to divorce and remarry.

  • Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) - It is the film adaptation of the rock opera that focuses on the conflict between Jesus and Judas in the last weeks before Christ's crucifixion

  • The Ten Commandments (1956) - The last film directed by Cecil DeMille, it is the story of Moses and the Israelites at the time that God gave his people the Ten Commandments. Stars Charlton Heston as Moses.

  • Jesus of Nazareth (1977) - Based on the accounts of the four New Testament Gospels, this film was directed by award-winning director Franco Zeffirelli and filmed in Tunisia and Morocco.

  • The Passion of the Christ (2004) - Recounts the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ, beginning with the betrayal and trial, up to his death and resurrection. This movie, megged by Australian actor Mel Gibson, is considered one of the best films about Jesus.

  • Quo Vadis (1951) - The movie takes place in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero which focuses on the conflict between Christianity and the corruption of the Roman Empire. It is not just a war movie, but also recounts the love story between a Roman military commander and a devout Christian woman.

  • The Song of Bernadette (1943) - Recounts the apparition of a beautiful lady to an adolescent girl named Bernadette in 1858 in France at the city dump. The government officials believe the girl is crazy and do everything to suppress her and her followers and even the church is staying away from her.

  • The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952) - The film tells the events that surrounded the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 to three poor children.

  • The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) - A silent film that tells the story of the French saint who was burned at the stakes for her faith. Besides the stellar performance of its cast, the film is said to be a classic when it comes to visual excellence in film-making.

  • The Mission (1986) - Recounts the story of two 18th century Spanish Jesuit priests who attempt to protect a remote South American Indian tribe from falling under the rule of Portugal which favoured slavery.

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