Comedian and author Paul Kerensa chooses his favourite bible themed movies to coincide with the release of A Beautiful Friendship: A Lent Course based on Casablanca ...

The Ten Commandments (1956)

I can’t justify two Charlton Heston films on this list, so I’m picking this, but honourable mention to 1959’s Ben-Hur, with its famous chariot race (try not to let the fact you can spot some chariot-drivers wearing wristwatches spoil your enjoyment of the film). I found myself pining for The Ten Commandments while watching the recent TV series of ‘The Bible’. The new version was well done, but when it comes to parting The Red Sea, I favour Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, and 300,000 gallons of water being poured into a tank and filmed backwards. Epic, before the word ‘epic’ started to mean a bloke falling off a skateboard on YouTube.

The Life of Brian (1979)

Controversial, still shocking in parts (I still feel bad watching that crucifixion scene at the end, and still can’t quite believe ‘Always Look On The Bright Side of Life’ comes from that), but the Python boys knew their stuff, and the brilliant gags, set-pieces and silly voices aside, it’s a compelling account of how false prophets and cults could have risen up at the time. Plus it has a lot to say about hypocrisy and being careful not to blindly follow wrong teaching. But mainly, it’s funny.

The Decalogue (1988)

Ten short films, all set in modern-day Poland, exploring each commandment. It’s by Krzystof Kieslowski, he of the Three Colours trilogy. It’s arty, it’s got subtitles, it’s occasionally hard work – but very rewarding. Plus including that on this list makes me look like the film student I’m not.

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

I am duty-bound to mention this DreamWorks animated version of Exodus. Not because of the kid-friendly songs that are fairly forgettable.  Nor because the lead role is played by Val Kilmer, in actually the first of two films where he’s played Moses (2006’s ‘The Ten Commandments: The Musical’ has to be seen to be believed). Nor even because the supporting cast has Martin Short, Steve Martin, Jeff Goldblum, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock and Michelle Pfeiffer. But because of this: When I was a Theology student from 1997-2000, I was pretty good at New Testament studies. I was terrible at Old Testament studies. For some reason the course or the lecturer or the commentaries we were recommended never quite connected with me. More than likely it was a failing in me, as my fellow students seemed to ‘get it’. So I sort of ignored it, until the Old Testament studies exam came around. No revision done, no decent notes of mine to refer to ahead of that afternoon’s exam. The Prince of Egypt opened in cinemas that morning. I watched it, I took notes, I got a 2:1. So say what you like about The Prince of Egypt, it’ll pass you an exam at university level.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

A grim watch, but then torture and crucifixion would be and probably should be. It’s certainly the best film in Aramaic I’ve ever watched. I don’t plan to revisit it for many a decade – it was a tough time viewing it, but I felt essential. I’ll be honest, when I heard about intoxicated Mel Gibson spouting off about things in the aftermath of this, it clouded the film a little, but it shouldn’t do. Some thought the torture scenes went too far – but if they didn’t, it would be pulling its punches. Jesus suffered, and by watching this, if we get the merest hint of it, perhaps it goes some way to reassessing our view of Jesus as baby-then-stained-glass-window.

Paul Kerensa is co-author of A Beautiful Friendship: A Lent Course based on Casablanca with his wife Zoe - out now in paperback, £5.99. He is also the author of the acclaimed So a Comedian Walks into a Church: Confessions of a Kneel-down Stand-up (DLT; 2013), and Genesis: The Bibluffer's Guide, a comedic re-telling of the first book of the bible published by DLT in March this year.