World Cinema, Theology, and the Human Humanity in Deep Focus [Paperback]

Forging an open-minded but reasoned dialogue between nine acclaimed titles of world cinema, and a range of theological perspectives that touch on the theme of human experience, World Cinema, Theology, and the Humanoffers fresh portals of insight for the interdisciplinary area of Theology and Film. In Sisons approach, it is the cinematic representation of vivid humanity, not necessarily propositional statements about God and religion, that lays down a bridge to a conversation with theology. Thus, the books project is to look for the divine presence, written not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts depicted on screen by way of audiovisual language. Seeking to redress the interdisciplines narrow predilection for Hollywood blockbusters, the book casts its net wider to include a culturally diverse selection of case studies from festival gems such as Singapores Be With Meand South Africas Yesterday, to widely-acclaimed sleeper hits such as Britains Slumdog Millionaireand New Zealands Whale Rider. The book will appeal to scholars of theology and religious/cultural studies interested in the Theology/Religion-Film interface, and, because of its commitment to an examination of film qua film, a crossover readership from film studies.

Introduction  Part I: Creative Humanity  1. Dance Of the Humanum: Billy Elliot  2. To Taste and See Heavens Love: Be with Me  Part II: Reconciling Humanity  3. Measuring Forgiveness: The Son  4. A Way To Be Good Again: Kite Runner  Part III: Liberating Humanity  5. Playing For Life: Lagaan, Slumdog Millionaire  6. Wheels Of Change: Motorcycle Diaries  Part IV: Inclusive Humanity  7. She Who is Three in One: Yesterday&nbslãÞ