Robert Redford, the late actor and director, explored themes of spirituality, faith, and moral decisions in many of his films, even if he wasn’t a practicing Catholic himself. At an outdoor Mass at the Vatican in 2019, he met Pope Francis and expressed gratitude for his environmental activism work.
In several films, Redford portrayed characters who grappled with these same questions, including “All the President’s Men,” which delved into the corruption scandal surrounding President Nixon, and “Quiz Show,” a drama about TV ethics. He also directed movies like “The Legend of Bagger Vance” and “Ordinary People,” both of which dealt with spiritual and philosophical themes.
In “A River Runs Through It,” Redford played a character who struggled with Christian faith and its promise of redemption in the face of tragedy. Another film, “Brubaker,” was seen by some as a thinly disguised tale of Christ’s sacrifice, where the main character takes on the sins of others to free them from bondage.
Redford’s environmental activism and his exploration of spirituality in his films were noted by Catholic writers, who saw parallels between his work and Christian values.
Source: https://www.ncronline.org/culture/robert-redfords-faith-legacy-film