Holy Celluloid! The Vatican List of Great Films and Why They Still Matter

"In these films we find a profound longing for the hidden God and his mercy".

Cardinal Anders Arborelius, OCD

Archbishop of Stockholm

To commemorate the centenary of motion pictures in 1995, Pope John Paul II convened a panel of lay and religious scholars to select the 45 Greatest Films of All Time. Divided into the categories of Religion, Values and Art, the List embraces such surprising and disparate classics such as Citizen Kane, The Seventh Seal, Schindler's List, The Sacrifice, The Wizard of Oz, 8 1/2, The Burmese Harp and Stagecoach.

Author Joseph Malham has written Project 45: The Vatican List of Great Films and Why They Still Matter as the first in-depth look at these enduring films from a secular, as opposed to a purely spiritual, perspective. From this unique angle, he highlights the universal themes and timeless messages that gives each film the quality of enduring, evergreen genius.

The reader may be familiar with most of the films, unfamiliar with some and astounded that others have landed on a list compiled by the Vatican. The intended result, however, is that the reader views these timeless masterpieces through a new lens.

Joseph Malham is an author and iconographer who for twenty years was artist in residence at Saint Gregory the Great Church in Chicago. His books include By Fire into Light: Four Catholic Martyrs of the Nazi Camps, Drawing Closer to Christ: A Self-Guided Icon Retreat and John Ford: Poet in the Desert which won Best Biography in the Great Southwest Book Festival.