Cloud Atlas (2012)

Cloud Atlas features a significant and emotionally resonant portrayal of a bisexual character, Robert Frobisher, and his love for Rufus Sixsmith. Despite a tragic end, their relationship is depicted with dignity and complexity, affirming the worth and enduring nature of their bond across time. The film's stance is empathetic and validating.

The film, an adaptation of the novel, intentionally features actors portraying multiple characters across different time periods and races. Several characters, whose race was established in the source material (e.g., Korean characters played by white or Black actors, or white characters played by Black actors), are depicted on screen by actors of a different race, often through extensive makeup.

The film's core philosophical themes of reincarnation, karma, and the interconnectedness of all beings strongly align with Buddhist principles. Sonmi~451's journey to enlightenment and her role as a revered, liberating figure for future generations deeply resonate with Buddhist concepts of awakening and compassion.

The film depicts nominal adherents of Christianity in the 1849 segment as enslavers and exploiters, with the narrative condemning these oppressive actions. While an individual character undergoes a moral awakening, the film does not offer a significant counterbalancing positive portrayal of Christian institutions or the faith itself in this context.