Gary Clover reviews a book by a theological scholar of high repute, holding degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Literature, a Masters in Australian History, and qualifications in communication, who received “an international award for the quality of his film criticism” in 2021.

Rev Dr Steve Taylor’s film reviews in Touchstone are familiar. Australian Catholic priest, spiritual director and film buff Father Peter Malone, similarly follows Ignatius’s principle of “Finding God in all places” to provide a fascinating, clear set of criteria to enable Christians, lay and ordained, of all denominations, and of other faiths, or none, to learn about Christology through the lens of popular film. In the late 1980s, well before the subject became fashionable, Malone saw “a fertile ground for looking at Christic, salvific and messianic resonances” in mainstream movies.

Peter Malone has published two earlier books on films: Movie Christs and Anti-Christs (1986), and Dear Movies. A former president of Catholic organisations, for cinema and audio-visuals, and communication, he has lectured at seminars and workshops worldwide, including in New Zealand.

The 30 movies chosen display a wide range of characters, issues and genres: science-fiction, romance, biography, documentary and war. Malone starts with Jesus as portrayed in Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. Then, from Father Barry in On the Waterfront (1954) to Fern in Nomadland (2020). Epic sci-fi heroes, Obi-wan Kenobi and Edward Scissorhands, to real-life Irena Sendler a Polish Catholic Warsaw Ghetto hero who saved 2,500 Jewish children (played by Anna Paquin). To Kill A Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, William Wilberforce, Dead Man Walking's Sister Helen Prejean, the Erin Brockovich-like Karen Silkwood, and Ingmar Bergman’s Agnes (Cries and Whispers, 1971). Young people’s heroes like Fingerbone (Storm Boy) and Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games); also the Seventh Day Adventist pacifist, US Medal of Honour recipient Desmond Doss, in Hackshaw Ridge. Surprising inclusions are, though she's Jewish the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary; the bitter, vindictive Dian Fossey in Gorillas In The Mist; and the saccharin portrayed but in real-life driven Maria von Trapp.

Each “Christ-Figure”, discussed in pithy, bite-sized, easy-read, three to four-page chapters, challenges our responses and spiritual journeys to prompt us to be the “Christ-Figure you are.” Highly recommended. This will change your perspective on why Christians should go to the cinema.