Throughout his papacy Pope Francis referenced ‘La Strada’ in homilies, interviews and public addresses.
John Dougherty
John Dougherty is the director of mission ministry at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, Pa., moderator of America's Catholic Movie Club, and author of Finding God in All Films: A Contemplative Approach to Watching Movies. You can find more of his work on his Substack, Roll Credits.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
‘Sinners’: a tale of temptation and transcendence
As the film’s title promises, there is plenty of sin on display, even before the vampires arrive.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ is the perfect film for Holy Week
Martyrdom finds perhaps its most powerful cinematic expression in Carl Theodor Dreyer’s “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928), a classic of the silent film era and widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
Robert Bresson’s ‘A Man Escaped’: the Catholic imagination of the 1956 prison break drama
‘A Man Escaped’ is a story of a man seeking temporal salvation, but Robert Bresson’s film takes on deeper meaning, becoming a parable of the Spirit.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
‘The Way’: A Lenten journey through grief along the Camino de Santiago
During Lent, we are called through death to new life. In “The Way” that journey becomes literal.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
Start your Lenten journey with ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’
In Llewyn I see a reflection of the human soul: restless, fumbling towards eternal but frequently getting sidetracked.
Posted inArts & Culture, Film
The rise and fall of Catholic wins at the Oscars
The stories about Catholics that Hollywood tells—and awards—has as much to do with what is happening with the church off-screen as what is shown on-screen.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
A documentary that reminds us Black history is unfolding right now
RaMell Ross’ film ‘Nickel Boys’ is nominated for Best picture. His 2018 documentary is an attempt to express Black life and history as dynamic and vital.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Movie Club
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’: Guillermo del Toro’s ‘riff on Catholic dogma’ in fascist Spain
“Pan’s Labyrinth” embodies the core tension of Catholic life: the push and pull between the eternal and the worldly.
Posted inArts & Culture, Film
A sports film Wendell Berry would love
The new film ‘Green and Gold’ credits prolific Christian writer and farmer Wendell Berry as its biggest influence. It’s easy to see why.