Reviews
Mr. Cunneen provides an excellent summary of the plot of each of Bresson's films… Mr. Cunneen probes deeply and at length, but not dryly…. This book inspires its readers to want to see the films for themselves, the final test of any book about film…. Mr. Cunneen is a good guide for discerning things of the spirit in film. Visual Parables, Summer 2004, "Cunneen clearly nails the spiritual effect of his subject's style. Though Bresson won't promise happy endings, 'his austere, clear-eyed cinematography fosters a deep understanding of the grandeur and pain of our common humanity.' Recommended." -M. Yaco, "...an excellent guide for those unschooled in film... Reading this book has helped me understand the film better than if I had gone back to the theater ten times....is written in a beautiful style which looks at life and its hard realities and looks at them close enough to see the supernatural." -Sheila McCarthy, The Catholic Worker, March-April, 2004, "Anyone who cherishes the connection between faith and film needs to revisit Bresson and take Cunneen along as a spiritual companion. Cunneen's Catholic sensibility and previous studies...show him to be a trustworthy and knowledgeable guide. And because watching Bresson's films unaccompanied can be difficult and at times confusing, Cunneen's book is just what the serious film student needs for the journey." -James M. Wall, Christian Century, July 26, 2003, SMr. Cunneen provides an excellent summary of the plot of each of Bresson "s films Mr. Cunneen probes deeply and at length, but not dryly . This book inspires its readers to want to see the films for themselves, the final test of any book about film . Mr. Cunneen is a good guide for discerning things of the spirit in film. “Visual Parables, Summer 2004, S an excellent guide for those unschooled in film Reading this book has helped me understand the film better than if I had gone back to the theater ten times .is written in a beautiful style which looks at life and its hard realities and looks at them close enough to see the supernatural. “Sheila McCarthy, The Catholic Worker, March-April, 2004, "Bresson stands as an ideal of simplicity.... I find him very close to the oriental concept of Zen: depth within narrowly defined limits." --Andrei Tarkovsky, "Bresson stands as an ideal of simplicity.... I find him very close to the oriental concept of Zen: depth within narrowly defined limits." -Andrei Tarkovsky, Joseph Cunneen has provided a work of serious film criticism that takes the reader beyond the film under discussion Even more, Cunneen has provided a unique perspective for a theological reflection on art and culture in a universe scarred by sin, touched by grace." -Richard A. Blake, America, "With tightly-written, jargon-free prose and an abundance of critical insights, film critic Cunneen reivews Bresson's oeuvre, finding meaning in his subject's view that life can be demanding or tragic but is ultimately redeemed by our common vulnerability and humanity....this is a worthy effort to make the work of an uncompromising artist accessible to general audiences and a new generation of film students. Recommended for large public and academic film collections." --Steven Rees, Library Journal, April 15, 2003, "Bresson is to French film what Dostoevsky is to the Russian novel and Mozart to German music." --Jean-Luc Godard, "Anyone who cherishes the connection between faith and film needs to revisit Bresson and take Cunneen along as a spiritual companion. Cunneen's Catholic sensibility and previous studies...show him to be a trustworthy and knowledgeable guide. And because watching Bresson's films unaccompanied can be difficult and at times confusing, Cunneen's book is just what the serious film student needs for the journey." --James M. Wall, Christian Century, July 26, 2003, "Bresson is to French film what Dostoevsky is to the Russian novel and Mozart to German music." -Jean-Luc Godard, Joseph Cunneen has provided a work of serious film criticism that takes the reader beyond the film under discussion…Even more, Cunneen has provided a unique perspective for a theological reflection on art and culture in a universe scarred by sin, touched by grace." -Richard A. Blake, America, "With tightly-written, jargon-free prose and an abundance of critical insights, film critic Cunneen reivews Bresson's oeuvre, finding meaning in his subject's view that life can be demanding or tragic but is ultimately redeemed by our common vulnerability and humanity....this is a worthy effort to make the work of an uncompromising artist accessible to general audiences and a new generation of film students. Recommended for large public and academic film collections." -Steven Rees, Library Journal, April 15, 2003, "Mr. Cunneen provides an excellent summary of the plot of each of Bresson's films... Mr. Cunneen probes deeply and at length, but not dryly.... This book inspires its readers to want to see the films for themselves, the final test of any book about film.... Mr. Cunneen is a good guide for discerning things of the spirit in film." -Visual Parables, Summer 2004, …an excellent guide for those unschooled in film… Reading this book has helped me understand the film better than if I had gone back to the theater ten times….is written in a beautiful style which looks at life and its hard realities and looks at them close enough to see the supernatural. Sheila McCarthy, The Catholic Worker, March-April, 2004
