(Summary from website): SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS marks acclaimed actor Mark Ruffalo’s first foray into directing.  This inspired and unusual film tells the story of Dean O’Dwyer (Christopher Thornton), also known as “Delicious D,” an up-and-coming DJ on the underground music scene in Los Angeles.  When a motorcycle accident leaves Dean paralyzed, he abandons his turntables for a wheelchair as his once promising career disappears before his eyes. Forced to live out of his car on skid row, Dean begins his descent into depression when he meets Father Joe Roselli (Mark Ruffalo), a passionate young priest.  Father Joe introduces Dean to the world of faith-healing, an unlikely way for him to begin his quest to walk again.  He soon discovers that he possesses the otherworldly power to heal people, but in an odd twist of fate, he is utterly unable to heal himself. Despite Father Joe’s warnings, Dean angrily decides to use his newfound gift for fame and fortune.  He joins a rock band led by charismatic front man The Stain (Orlando Bloom) with bassist Ariel (Juliette Lewis), and manager Nina Hogue (Laura Linney).  But his newfound notoriety is unable to cure the hurt that encompasses his life.  To find true healing, Dean must ultimately confront his worst demons and come to terms with his own humanity. SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS is an edgy rock-and-roll spiritual journey that explores the lasting effects of tragedy, the search for meaning, and the ultimate redemptive power of compassion.

Out in theatres this weekend, here is a Sundance interview about Frozen River. Every year some films are the “buzz” of Sundance. This time the buzz converted to one of Sundance’s major awards. Enjoy Craig Detweiler’s exclusive discussion with the producer (Heather Rae), writer/director (Courtney Hunt) and two actors (Melissa Leo and Misty Upham) from “Frozen River,” which has not only been talked about by the film-goers, but was picked up for distribution by SONY Pictures. Frozen River’s feature-length script is set in a real-life smuggling zone on a Native American reservation between New York State and Quebec where the lure of fast money presents a daily challenge to single moms who would otherwise be making minimum wage. Strapped for money and having been deserted by her husband, working class Ray (Melissa Leo), reluctantly teams up with Lila (Misty Upham), a widowed Mohawk Indian, to smuggle illegal immigrants across the frozen St. Lawrence River from Canada to the U.S. in the trunk of a Dodge Spirit. Both women swear each trip will be their last, but one final run across the river leads to a showdown with the law on all sides.

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On the afternoon of March 29, 2002 the world was shaken when an 18 year-old Palestinian girl and suicide bomber, entered a market where she detonated a bomb, killing herself, injuring 30 and killing a 17 year-old Israeli girl. No one was shaken more than the mothers of the two dead teenage girls, who shared so much in common and yet whose differences brought them to their untimely deaths. In her thought-provoking documentary, To Die In Jerusalem, Director & Producer Hilla Medalia puts a human face on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through two mothers, who struggle to cope with the event that put them in the center of an intractable geopolitical conflict. After conversation with Hilla, we are joined by John and Ed Priddy, producers of the film. We then turn to audience questions.

In his classic God in Popular Culture, sociologists Andrew Greeley concluded, “my thesis is simple enough: Popular Culture is a theological place”the locale in which one may encounter God. Popular culture provides an opportunity to experience God and to tell stories of God to, to put the matter more abstractly, to learn about God and to teach about God.” Today a discussion about interpreting film with Craig Detweiler, author and director of Reel Spirituality at Fuller Seminary’s Brehm center, Peggy Rupple from Biola University and Cathy Bruner from Taylor University.

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Windrider Forum hosts young filmmakers and theologians in an exploration the films of Sundance. Today a discussion about the importance of Sundance in these endeavors. We feature Craig Detweiler author and director of “Reel Spirituality,” Lisa Swain a film producer and director of the communications film program at Biola University and Dr. Jim Spiegel, philosophy Professor from Taylor University.