Cape Town - Sandwiched between two major religious festivals, this weekend is the perfect time to binge on 6 delightful internet-TV series and movies about keeping the faith.
This acclaimed series, screened for the first time in Africa on Showmax, sees the first American Pope (Jude Law) steering a sinister new path for the Church. Those who put him in power thought he could be controlled. They were wrong. This photogenic young Pope has his own plans for power – and dictators don’t knock. Diane Keaton plays Sister Mary, the nun who raised him.
Watch the trailer here:
Available on Showmax.
This fun, touching South African romcom is one for the whole family. The wedding of Jean, from a conservative, Christian Afrikaans family, to Sheryl, whose family is Jewish, sees their very different families colliding, and becomes an exercise in damage control for the hapless best man Lukas. With a local star-studded cast including Nico Panagio as Jean, Louw Venter as Lukas, Casey B Dolan as Sherryl, Kim Engelbrecht as the not-entirely-welcome blast from the past, and Casper de Vries as Barry White (yes, really), the uptight owner of the wedding venue.
Watch the trailer here:
Available on Showmax.
Seasons 1 to 3 of this popular British period drama are available to stream or download on Showmax. The young nurses in Poplar in London’s East End in the 50s and 60s live in the convent Nonnatus House with the more experienced sisters who are there to keep them in line and remind them of the power of faith in dark times.
Watch the trailer here:
Available on Showmax.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
This critically acclaimed HBO documentary takes a look at one of the world’s most controversial churches through the eyes of eight of its defectors. Winner of three Emmy Awards, this eye-opening film is a must-see for anyone who’s ever wondered how this mysterious religion cultivates true believers, include many A-list Hollywood celebs.
Watch the trailer here:
Available on Netflix.
Based on lead star Michaela Coel’s play Chewing Gum Dreams, this hilarious, irreverent British comedy series is about virginal teenager Tracey Gordon, who is being raised as a Pentecostal Christian with her Ghanaian family in a flat in London. But Tracey’s determined to grab the bull by the horns and lose her virginity - though her boyfriend Ronald who “definitely might be gay” is not so keen. She worships Jesus and Beyoncé equally, and fears her mother above all else.
Watch the trailer here:
Available on Netflix.
Known as one of the “most Jewish” shows on TV, this Amazon Prime comedy-drama series about the Pfefferman’s patriarch (Jeffrey Tambor) who transforms himself from Morty to Maura, and the fallout for the rest of his extremely dysfunctional family, has brought LGBT issues to the fore like no other. It’s witty and dark and cringe-worthy and enlightening, has won several Emmys and garnered heaps of critical acclaim. While the family occasionally sit down to Shabbat together and celebrate Seder once or twice, their Judaism seems to be more of a cultural background than an observant religious practice. One of our favourite characters, though, has to be Rabbi Raquel, beautifully played by Kathryn Hahn (who’s actually Catholic IRL). The Rabbi’s often the voice of reason - until the family’s neuroses and feuds become too much, even for her.
Watch the trailer here:
Available on Amazon Prime.