“No Place on Earth” is the incredible story of Ukraine’s holocaust survivors

April 12, 2013 By 1 Comment
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In 1993 Chris Nicola, a cave explorer from Queens, NY, was in western Ukraine to research his family tree. While there he decided to explore some the country’s famous Gypsum Giant caves that extend for about 77 miles underground. In fact, he was the first person to ever do so. Deep in one of the caves he came across some artifacts: a cup, a shoe, a comb, buttons, medicine bottles.  He realized that these items belonged to someone, were part of someone’s life and started to ask questions. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Documentary, Drama, Faith and film, Film Reviews, Violence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Les Miserables: a conversation about what the movie means

February 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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      Here's is a conversation that I had with radio host Sharon DiCicca of Toronto's Radio Maria. Sharon is a wonderful host and producer and I think you will enjoy this show.  HMWN Radio Maria is a Canadian Catholic Radio Station based in Toronto. This is a link to the HMWN Radio Maria Audio Archives: Click here for the audio file: In conversation about the 2012 film"Les Miserables". -- Sharon DiCecco says:  -- -- To love another person is to see the face … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, art, Catechesis, Catholics in Media, Commerntary, Drama, Faith and film, Faith formation, Film Reviews, Grace, Musical, On Faith and Media, Popular Culture, religion, Sacraments, Social justice, Spirituality and Media, Sr Rose Faith and Media Tagged With: , , , , , Leave a Comment

Three-part PBS documentary shines spotlight on key abolitionists

January 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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  "The Abolitionists" American Experience, PBS 10 p.m./9 p.m. Central, Jan. 8, Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 Tonight, a three-part documentary premieres on PBS that tells the story of the abolitionists and the movement they created in the United States to end slavery. The series comes at the right moment by providing the historical context, biographies and background to the passage of the 13th Amendment as shown in the Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln," now in theaters. Yet Abraham Lincoln's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Documentary, Drama, Faith formation, History, Non-violence, religion, Resources, Social justice, Theology, theology of violence Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

“The Hobbit” is entertaining and inspiring hero’s tale

December 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Martin Freeman stars in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." (CNS/Warner Bros.)

In the time before the great contests recorded in "The Lord of the Rings," the Shire, hobbit zone of Middle Earth, is a gentle place, and hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is comfortable in his hobbit hole home. He loves his books and appears to be rather fussy. Enter the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan), who tries to entice Bilbo to come on an adventure. Bilbo is reluctant, but Gandalf has invited a band of 13 dwarves, led by Thorin (Richard Armitage), to gather at Bilbo's home. Bilbo … [Read more...]

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“The Bible” trailer released today

December 12, 2012 By 18 Comments
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    Here is the trailer for the new television series on The Bible from producers Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel) and Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice) comes THE BIBLE, an epic ten part mini-series that will debut on The History Channel on March 3, 2013. This new epic 10-part miniseries will premiere on The History Channel on March 3, 2013 (just two weeks or so into Lent!) It is produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice) and Roma Downey … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Drama, Faith formation, Sr Rose Faith and Media, story, Television, Theology, TV reviews and notes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 18 Comments

“Apocalyptic themes in movies”: 12/21/12 and the end of the world … again

December 11, 2012 By 2 Comments
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According to the Mayan Calendar the end of the world is to happen on December 21, 2012: 12/21/12. But it did not happen on all the other dates that have foretold this terrible, cataclysmic event. It is already 12/12/12  and so far, so good. We’re still here. Earlier this year I was invited to give a presentation at a local parish on “Apocalyptic Themes in Cinema”.  I wondered why people are so fascinated by the end of the world and posed the question on Facebook. Angelene Shewfelt, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Drama, Faith and film, Fantasy, Film History, Horror, Popular Culture, Science and faith, Spirituality and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Interview with Mona Golabek on CatholicTV, Boston

December 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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  Here is a link to John Monahan's excellent interview with Mona Golabek, star of the one-woman play "The Pianist of Willesden Lane." It appeared on Boston's Catholic TV last Friday, December 7 and can now be seen online. The interview is at the 18" minute mark of the half hour program "Clear Voice". It is an excellent interview and introduction to the play, that I believe, can change lives. You can still purchase tickets to "The Pianist of Willesden Lane" (also good for young … [Read more...]

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A Royal Affair, Life of Pi, Chasing Mavericks

December 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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In 1766, the little sister of Britain’s King George III, Princess Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander), is betrothed to her cousin, King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) of Denmark. The king, a mentally ill philanderer, has to be coaxed into fathering a child. The king’s ministers are concerned about the monarch’s instability, so they hire a German doctor, Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), to be at his side. The king comes to trust the doctor. But when they return to … [Read more...]

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PBS to revisit ‘Downton Abbey’ with Sunday special Nov 25

November 22, 2012 By 1 Comment
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"Who will marry whom?" and "Will Mr. Bates get out of prison?" are two of the driving questions that lingered as season two of PBS's highest-rated Masterpiece series came to an end in 2011. As a teaser and fundraising event, PBS is airing a special, hosted by Angela Lansbury, that revisits key moments of the first two seasons, sums up where the series left off and entices with clips about Downtown Abbey's upstairs/downstairs  folks post-World War I, coming up in season three. The new season … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Drama, Social justice, Sr Rose Faith and Media, story, Television Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Pianist brings mother’s Holocaust experiences to life

November 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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Live theater is always fresh even when the story breaks your heart. The actors pour themselves into the feat of becoming another and convincing us that their pain, joy, dilemmas, tragedy and triumph are real. Through the kindness of friends, Daughter of St. Paul Sr. Marie Hunt and I were able to experience "The Pianist of Willesden Lane" at the Geffen Playhouse at UCLA. The Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater within the playhouse is intimate at only 115 seats, or parlor armchairs, arranged on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, art, Drama, Education: Access and Empowerment, Faith formation, Grace, Social justice, Spirituality and Media, Sr Rose Faith and Media, Stage & Theater, Theater, Theology Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment