Fr. Peter

Vertigo (1958)

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vertigo-lilac-judy

A retired detective who suffers from acrophobia is asked to follow the wife of an old friend, in one of the greatest mystery films of all time. But beneath the conventions and appearance of the romance-mystery genre lies far more, as Hitchcock takes us on an exploration into fear, love and obsession. Using many experimental techniques, Hitchcock created a film so unique and strange that the audience of the time just didn’t know how to respond. Originally panned by the critics, Vertigo is today recognised as being not only Hitchcock’s very best, but also one of the greatest films of all time.

IN THIS POST

*Blessed Are The Merciful By A.A. Crayley

*The Vertigo of Dishonest Love by Fr. Peter Kwak

*A Tall Story About A Pushover by Rodney Mansour

*The Single Man, the Ideal Woman and the Vertigo of the Human Heart by Jeremy Ambrose

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The Third Man (1949)

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Third Man

Written by Graham Greene as a piece of entertainment, as opposed to one of his more “serious” theological works, and yet still full of Catholic themes that probe beneath the surface of humanity, The Third Man is one of THE great films and famous for its noir filled vision of post-war Vienna and the signature zither music that accompanies it. Steeped in an indescribable atmosphere where shadows hide truth and evil lurks behind the most charismatic of personalities, The Third Man is a marvel of storytelling and filmmaking. Holly Martins is offered a job by his old friend Harry Lime, however, when he arrives to Vienna, he finds his friend dead in a suspicious accident, leaving him to unravel the truth and discover the identity of the enigmatic “third man” at the scene of the crime.

IN THIS POST

*Harry Vs. Holly by Fr. Peter Kwak

*Vienna, Anna and Forgiveness By A.A. Crayley

*A Reflection on Holly by Benard Chedid

*Harry, Holly and The Third Man by Jeremy Ambrose

*Fantasy vs Fact: What Do Women Really Want (and Need)? By A.A. Crayley

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Paths of Glory (1957)

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Paths of Glory

paths of glory

A war film that gives us one of the strongest anti war sentiments ever. If war is Hell, then we see true evil at work in the corruption of those in power and in a system that treats the human person as a mere object, as means to the greater end of victory. It is a film that is truly shocking it its depiction of moral bankruptcy and the persecution of the powerless. Grandly crafted, its technique serves to create a bold vision and captivating story, and then fills the frame with incredible performances from all the actors. A film that has no women until the last scene possibly speaks the loudest about the power of the feminine genius and its necessity in bringing man back to humanity. The spellbinding and rather strange finale offers an exploited woman as a figure of hope and a reminder of the higher nature that mankind is called to, and all too often forgets.

IN THIS POST

*A Reflection on Evil in ‘Paths of Glory’ by Pablo Vila

*A Catholic Imagining of ‘Paths of Glory’ by Fr. Peter Kwak

*The Casualty of War by Benard Chedid

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