I've been asked to speak about faith and moviegoing at a conference for Christian artists.

They told me to bring some movies and be prepared to present them and lead post-viewing discussions.

Then the "some" was revised... to "one."

And then, when the official schedule of the event was provided, they had given me a 90-minute period to both show and lead discussion about the movie.

Um, so....

Please recommend the best movies shorter than 90 minutes (75 - 80 minutes would be ideal), movies that would stir up an adventurous discussion (for about ten minutes).

Once
THX 1138
Phone Booth (ugh)
Vendredi Soir
Before Sunset (77 minutes!)
Rope

A few Errol Morris documentaries maybe?

Wow, thanks, Michael.

In fact, the one movie I was somewhat excited about plugging into that short time span was Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control. So I like your thinking.

There is only ONE MOVIE you should show...

PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0052077/
79 minutes.

I am deathly serious.

Note beforehand that this is a film that was funded by a local Baptist Church (this was re-enacted in the movie ED WOOD). It was done with the intention of trying to make a little money for the church, so to make Biblical movies. There's a scene where they tried to integrate a positive, feel-good message into the proceedings.

I think this qualifies it as one of the earliest examples of Christian, um, "art."

It is simultaneously a gut-busting laugh-riot, AND... a stern, horrific vision as to what can go wrong when positive intentions are all that you've got. And it's got the Golden Turkey's #1 Worst Movie of All Time distinction to boot.

I hope this helps.
Nick

P.S. Hey! It's playing on Turner Classic Movies Mon, March 10 at 3:30am (Sunday late late night).

The BBC Shadowlands. 73 minutes. In many ways superior to the later theatrical version.

My Flesh and Blood (83 minutes)

The Seventh Victim
Color of Pomegranates
Berlin Alexanderplatz

How about one of the Decologue's?

I was leaning toward Decalogue 1, actually, but when I saw the list of attendees, I concluded that most of them were probably already very familiar with it. Otherwise, that would have been my immediate choice.

Run Lola Run 80 min.

Primer is only 77 minutes long (according to IMDb).

Some more titles... 8.0 and up ...

Cat People (1942)
Pickpocket (1959)
Battleship Potempkin (1925)
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Duck Soup (1933)
The Gold Rush (1925)
Our Hospitality (1923)
Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein
Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)
The Kid (1921)
One Way Passage (1932)
Sunrise (1926)
The Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
The General (1927)
Yojimbo (edited version)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
Passion of Joan of Arc (restored version)

Hope this helps...
Nick

Second the suggestion of Ox-Bow and Primer.

I think Greg meant to second Ox-Bow, and I'd agree that would be an excellent one to use.

Well, who said anything about OX BOX? Huh? Ox Box... hahahahahahahahaha! Who'd be STUPID enough to type "Ox Box."

Ow. I think I hurt something.