Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast

The Tree of Life may well be the greatest movie ever made. Heavily inspired by the book of Job and St. Augustine's Confessions (and even including some lines about nature and grace seemingly derived from The Imitation of Christ), director Terrence Malick gives profound spiritual and cosmic scope to the story of an ordinary family in 1950s Texas. The film begins with the death of a son, detours to the creation of the universe, and then flashes back to a richly observed sequence of childhood in all its beauty along with the tragic effects of sin - seen through the memory of a present-day narrator seeking the traces of God in his past. The greatness of The Tree of Life lies in its unmatched poetic power. Unless you've seen another Terrence Malick film, it will be unlike anything you've seen before. Though it has a story, it is less focused on plot development than on an archetypal yet vivid picture of family life and how we gain, lose, and recover our awareness of "love smiling through all things". The film does not follow typical rules of chronological or visual continuity (one could say it is almost entirely montage), but its improvisational freedom and fluidity in acting, cinematography, and editing make for a kinetic and exhilarating viewing experience. The portrayal of childhood is surely the most beautiful ever put on screen. Nathan Douglas joins as guest host in this continuation of our series covering Malick's filmography. SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to keep this podcast going: https://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Music is The Duskwhales, "Take It Back", used with permission. https://theduskwhales.bandcamp.com

The Sound of Music is rightly beloved by Catholics. James and Thomas discuss the movie's all-around excellence, break down Julie Andrews's virtuosic performance, and explore what the film says about the freedom and openness necessary to discern and pursue one's vocation in life. DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters Music is The Duskwhales, "Take It Back", used with permission. https://theduskwhales.bandcamp.com

Br. Joshua Vargas, a seminarian in the Philadelphia Oratory known for his artistic contributions, joins the discussion on the latest season of The Chosen. The conversation dives into the season's pivotal moments, from John the Baptist's execution to Lazarus' resurrection. They critique the show's shift towards fictional subplots that might distract from biblical truths. Jonathan Roumie's portrayal of Jesus shines, but concerns about character development and narrative integrity arise, alongside reflections on emotional depth and historical accuracy.

Nathan Douglas, an expert on magisterial documents about cinema, joins Thomas Mirus to discuss the Church's evolving relationship with film from Vatican II and onwards. They explore how the Church shifted from celebrating cinema as a unique art form to viewing it within a broader media context. Key themes include the importance of media literacy for youth, the evolving criteria for artistic merit in Catholic film, and the need for artists to balance creativity with moral integrity. They also touch on controversies in Catholic cinema awards and the responsibility of filmmakers in contemporary culture.

The 1991 film A Brighter Summer Day, directed by Edward Yang, is considered by many one of the best movies ever made. The film is set in Taiwan, shortly after the Chinese Civil War, when the country was under martial law, with a political and cultural pressure felt at every level of society. At the center of this intricately plotted four-hour drama is the family of fourteen-year-old Xiao Si'r, whose strong sense of honor and justice is pulled in various directions as he gets caught up in a youth gang and romantically entangled with the girlfriend of a disappeared gang leader. But more than that, this incredibly textured four-hour drama gives the sense of a whole uneasy social fabric. As this is the first Chinese-language film the Criteria hosts have covered, they are joined by film festival programmer Frank Yan, who provides crucial historical and cultural context about Taiwanese history and cinema. SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio Music is The Duskwhales, "Take It Back", used with permission. https://theduskwhales.bandcamp.com

The discussion dives into Pope Pius XII's vision for cinema, exploring how films can communicate truth, goodness, and beauty. They highlight the challenge of depicting religious themes authentically and the pitfalls of religious interpretations that lack lived experience. The conversation reflects on the secular trends in mid-century cinema and the responsibilities of artists, critics, and theater managers. Additionally, they tackle how film can portray evil without glamorizing it and the importance of film in shaping societal values, emphasizing moral obligations for creators.

Pope Ven. Pius XII, a key figure in the Catholic Church known for his insights into media and cinema, explores the intersection of faith and film. He discusses the psychological effects of cinema on viewers, emphasizing their active role in interpreting stories. Pius outlines qualities of the ideal film that respect human dignity and encourage self-expression. He even addresses the legitimacy of escapism in film, asserting that both deep and light narratives have their place, reflecting the full spectrum of human experience.

Nathan Douglas, a filmmaker and frequent co-host, dives into Pope Pius XI's encyclical, Vigilanti Cura, discussing its historical context and moral concerns about cinema. He highlights Father Daniel Lord's crucial role in shaping Catholic involvement in Hollywood and the impact of early film on societal values. The conversation explores cinema’s dual nature as both entertainment and a potential moral guide. Douglas emphasizes Pius XI's vision for art's purpose and the responsibility of today's filmmakers to elevate ethical standards in storytelling.

Joshua Hren discusses the biopic Wildcat, delving into Flannery O'Connor's faith and artistic journey. The film portrays the complex relationship between artistic ambition and faith, inspiring Catholic artists to navigate external pressures. The conversation explores the challenges of adapting O'Connor's narratives into film while highlighting the aesthetic qualities and transformative impact of a Catholic MFA program.

The Criteria crew continue their journey through the works of today's most significant Christian filmmaker, Terrence Malick. The New World is an underrated masterpiece about Pocahontas and the founding of Jamestown in 1607. Starring the 14-year-old Q'orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas, Colin Farrell as John Smith, and Christian Bale as John Rolfe, Malick's retelling of the story remarkably combines realism and historical accuracy with poetry and romance, as all three protagonists explore not just one but multiple new worlds, geographical and interior. With The New World, Malick definitively entered a new stage in his career, particularly in his unforgettable collaboration with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The result is an aesthetic that is humble and receptive rather than magisterial. Rather than dominating reality, the camera seems to enter into it, so that we can contemplate something the camera cannot exhaust. James, Thomas, and Nathan discuss Malick's style extensively in this episode, and make the case for why Catholics studying or making art should not focus only on "themes" to the neglect of form, because style itself conveys a vision of reality. Note: make sure you watch the extended cut or the 150-minute "first cut", not the theatrical cut. This film contains brief ethnographic nudity. DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters Music is The Duskwhales, "Take It Back", used with permission. https://theduskwhales.bandcamp.com