Friars and Film

A discussion of Roberto Rossellini's 1945 film of Italy's occupation during World War II, one of the first of its genre. Themes include grace under fire, priests portrayed in cinema, and mortality. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "On an Evening in Roma" by Dean Martin.

A discussion of Fritz Lang's 1927 science-fiction film of various images robotic, familial, Marian, even Babel. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" by Sufjan Stevens.

Join us as we discuss Vittorio De Sica's 1948 neorealist film about, yes, a bicycle thief. Other themes: children looking up to their parents, original sin, mob mentality, and the like. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Put The Blame On Mame" by Rita Hayworth.

Our Fellini foray is here finished. We try to tackle his two greatest films and find ourselves limited. Follow us to the early 1960s as we cover nearly 6 hours of film, tracking the decline of journalist Marcello Rubini and that of the director himself. Other themes include: Biblical fish, serial adultery, and self-absorbed artists. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro mu...

Pope Francis' favorite film is Federico Fellini's 1954 story of a clown who with dignity and grace navigates her life on the road. We discuss mid century Italian life and the danger of living a life of perhaps too much comedy. We are joined by another guest, Joseph McHenry. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "E' bella la strada" by Claudio Chieffo.

A discussion of John Ford's 1939 film, self-described as "a powerful story of 9 strange people." We discuss the western genre, the concept of home, and John Wayne's faith. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Rawhide" by Frankie Laine.

Maybe you saw Christopher Nolan's most recent film and had no idea what happened. We reveal all secrets here. Listen for more. We are joined by Fr. Gregory Pine. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Floating on Air" by Spa Music.

Luxury, revolution, matchmaking, and the strong ocean currents of Sicily. Join us for a discussion of Luchino Visconti's 1963 film, an adaptation of the earlier novel by Lampedusa. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Mamba Italiano" by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

For everyone interested in more Swedish drama films, this is the one for you. Join us as we discuss our second Ingmar Bergman film and once again look death in the face. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles.

A discussion of the1922 silent vampire film by F.W. Murnau. This edition should delight and inform the average movie viewer, while perhaps frustrating true Stoker scholars of this field. It is a field in which we are not experts. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Nosferatu" by Blue Oyster Cult.

Our third time covering Terrence Malick, here in his early 1978 film on migrant workers. You can see Richard Gere harvesting wheat in the Texas Panhandle, echoing the story of Abraham and Sara, all shot in natural light and very often at dusk. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: suite from the film by Ennio Morricone.

A discussion of Martin Scorsese's 2016 film on Jesuit missionaries to Japan. Based on an earlier novel by Shūsaku Endō, we discuss themes of colonialism, courage before death, whether Star Wars and Spiderman actors were a good choice as priests, and whether the film's theology is snuff with that of the Church. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "You Know How...

Search for paradise with us in Terrence Malick's 1998 film on the Guadalcanal campaign. The director, as always, has various musings: war in nature and in men, the animal kingdom, the inner philosopher in each man, and our inevitable task of facing death. It is also Jim Caviezel's first film, flanked by a celebrity cast of just about any actor you can name, besides Tom Hanks who was busy with Savi...

Be prepared to face human nature as such, as we discuss Andrei Tarkovsky's 1966 classic on the Middle Ages, the power of sweeping visuals, the texture of mud, the place of artists in society, and the mortal condition, i.e. we will all die one day. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Final Teleutaion Antiphon Before the Entrance" by Cappella Romana.

A return to the Dutch filmmaker, Carl Theodor Dreyer, and his 1955 film on three brothers, crazed prophets, and the possibility of miracles. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "The Word" by The Beatles.

A discussion of the1963 film for which Sidney Poitier won Best Actor at the Academy Awards. The story of a migrant worker, traveling through rural Arizona and then taken in by Catholic German nuns, is based on a William Edmund Barrett novel of the same name. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Amen" from the film itself.

A discussion of George Seaton's 1947 Christmas film, set in Macy's, and igniting yet again the great Santa question: should we tell children of him or not? Find the final answer in this very episode. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole. 

A discussion of Carol Reed's 1949 noir film set in postwar Vienna, where a American western novelist turns detective to solve his friend's murder. Names as big as Graham Greene and Orson Welles! A mystery film to thrill all ages! Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "The Third Man Theme" by The Band. 

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. 1942. No explanation necessary. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "As Time Goes By" by Dooley Wilson.

A discussion of Philip Gröning's 2007 documentary on the monks of the Grande Chartreuse. One of the most hidden religious communities in the world, they replied to his letter after 16 years, granting him 6 months access to film within cloister walls. Wait until the right contemplative mood to watch this film. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum.

A discussion of Maurice Cloche's 1947 film on St. Vincent de Paul, his work as father to the poor and galvanizing help from the higher-ups. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Vincent" (not de Paul) by Don McLean.

A discussion of Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 film on the final days of medieval Europe's best-documented female saint. Involves: wide eyes, wicked theologians, and slowly panning cameras. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Poets and Mirros" by Hope & Justin.

A discussion of Roberto Rossellini's 1952 film and its not-so-stellar depiction of the saint from Assisi. Notwithstanding, of course, a few good takeaways. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music from the film.

A discussion of Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film about industry, love, and being an artist. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Smile" by Nat King Cole.

A discussion of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film about human origins, human futures, and zero-gravity jogging. Intro music: "Magne Pater" by Dominican Schola Cantorum. Outro music: "Space Oddity" by David Bowie.