ROME, NOV. 28, 2003 (Zenit.org).- All films on Jesus, “whether or not they wish it,” contribute to theology, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Cardinal Paul Poupard made that point today when presenting, in the pontifical council’s premises, the 7th “Tertio Millennio” international spiritual film festival with the theme “Christ in Films: A Cinematographic Canon.”
“The movies interact not only with the culture of their time, with its anthropology and the prevailing philosophic thought, but also with theology,” the French cardinal explained.
For his part, Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, presented the cinema as a “vehicle of spiritual values.”
“The encounter between God and man also takes place in the movies,” the archbishop added, manifesting his satisfaction that the figure of Jesus Christ is, again today, the focus of films.
“It means that there is a desire on the part of the directors to proclaim again the message of love of Jesus Christ,” he said.
The congress “Christ in Films. A Cinematographic Canon,” will be held at the Urban University of Rome next Tuesday.
It is promoted by the pontifical councils for culture and for social communications in connection with the “Tertio Millennio” festival. The latter is organized by the Rivista del Cinematografo, with RAI Cinema and Medusa Film, together with other entities.
Among the films that will be shown at the festival are Joel Schumacher’s “Veronica Guerin, the Price of Courage”; Jacques Perrin’s “The Migrant People”; Alexander Payne’s “Speaking of Schmidt”; and Gabriele Salvadores’ “I’m Not Afraid.”
“Supplement,” by Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi, will make its premiere.
