A Whole Life in Twelve Movies: A Cinematic Journey to a… (2024)

If you are a cinéaste who loves to explore spiritual elements in films, this book is for you. Beautifully written and organized, the book led me at first to just skim the list of films included, then dig deeper to find the spiritual treasures in movies I've seen and now must-watch. A must-have for every lover of the cinema!

A Whole Life in Twelve Movies by Kathleen Norris and Gareth Higgins is a well written, and organized, discussion of twelve films that relate to different aspects or stages of human life. These films have been produced over a wide period of time, and some are more obscure than others. After each of the authors discusses the selected movie in each category, categories such as “waiting to be born,” “childhood,” “community,” or “the breaking and remaking of self,” they provide a list of questions for readers to use for self reflection after they experience the film (or even after reading the preceding discussion).

While I believe I have only seen four of the primary films discussed, I want to see those again and find the others, several of which I had never heard about prior to this book. Each chapter also uses other movies as comparison or examples in the discussion. There is also a list of films related to each chapter provided at the end of the book. I found this book thought provoking and thoughtful and plan to try to locate several of these films. This book could be used as a springboard for discussion among friends or groups. Recommended.

Thanks to Brazos Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

As an avid film enthusiast, I approached "A Whole Life in Twelve Movies" wondering how just twelve films could encapsulate the human experience. What unfolds is an intimate conversation about cinema's power to illuminate life's journey.

Norris and Higgins have crafted something special - a book that reads like eavesdropping on a fascinating dialogue between two deeply thoughtful viewers. Their analysis of films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Babette's Feast" transcends mere critique, using these works as launching points for deeper contemplation about existence, spirituality, and human connection. The authors' different perspectives - Norris's American poetic sensibility and Higgins's Irish storytelling background - create a rich interplay of ideas that enriches their observations.

What particularly struck me was how the book manages to be deeply spiritual without becoming preachy. Both authors bring their religious perspectives to bear on these films, but in a way that invites rather than insists. Their discussions had me immediately adding several films to my must-watch list, including "Malcolm X," "Paterson," and "After Life."

The inclusion of discussion questions and additional film recommendations transforms this from a simple film guide into a practical tool for group exploration and personal reflection. This book serves as both a thoughtful film guide and a spiritual companion, perfect for anyone interested in exploring how movies can deepen our understanding of life's big questions.

A big thank you to Brazos Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever left a great movie and just wanted to talk about it, what it meant to you, how it made you feel, what the other person felt? A Whole Life in Twelve Movies by Kathleen Norris and Gareth Higgins does a marvelous job of shining a light on how movies can reflect a part of our lives and inspire us to go deeper. The book highlights 12 movies that have been meaningful to the authors and they challenge you to go deeper.

The format of the book is great as a read-alone book but also has tremendous application for friends who like movies and enjoy sharing too. I may well encourage my small faith community to make this our next focus!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I was intrigued by the title and hoped for more. While the authors take the time to pick 12 movies, there are many more cited and discussed in each chapter. I enjoyed the discussion questions after the chapter to allow for a deeper dive into each movie and chapter subject matter.
I think that this is a great introduction for a person who loves film to wrestle with the author's thoughts. Each of us brings a unique perspective to our movie-viewing experience, and while some are well-known, these movies are very obscure. I'm interested in watching some of them, but for a modern audience, other modern movies could be used to help younger readers/viewers.

Most film criticism doesn't consider the meaning of the films they review. Which is crazy when the stories we tell and consume order the ways we live our lives. This book is wise. Its writers provide the opportunity not only to watch some wonderful movies, they illuminate them in ways I would never have considered. In going in, my fear was that I might find it boring, overly academic, but that is not the case at all. It's written with a meditative, conversational tone that doesn't belabour its points. It's uplifting, encouraging and life-affirming. I have a digital version, but I'm glad to have the paperback on my shelf. I think I'll come back to it more than once.

This is a lovely series of essays by two wise souls. They aren't as interested in the technical aspects of 'good movies' as much as they are thinking about what these films can say to readers about the reader's lives and their values. Aside from the author's own deep insights, the discussion questions they provide offer chances for more reflection and the list of other recommended movies on particular themes is a great way for readers to continue exploring meaningful movies.