Faith and Film: The Shape of Water
Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.
The Shape of Water is the latest film from director Guillermo del Toro. It has been described in many ways, perhaps best as an “adult fairy tale.” It’s a beautiful, imaginative film in so many ways, and is already receiving several mentions in the end of the year awards.
The Shape of Water tells the story of Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a lonely, mute woman who lives in an apartment above a movie theater in Baltimore, circa 1960. Her neighbor and friend is a lonely gay man named Giles (Richard Jenkins). Elisa works as a cleaning woman at a top secret defense institution with her other friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer).
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Faith and Film: Darkest Hour
Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.
Last summer the critically acclaimed movie Dunkirk was released, telling the story of the evacuation of the British troops from Dunkirk to England in 1940. Now we see the story leading up to Dunkirk, from the point of view of Winston Churchill in the new movie Darkest Hour.
Darkest Hour takes place in the month of May, 1940, when Neville Chamberlain resigns as British Prime Minister and Churchill takes office. It’s interesting that, with his great reputation after the war, we learn that Churchill was disliked by many when he took office, including King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn). Churchill was a compromise candidate, a conservative who was also acceptable to the liberal party. On the continent of Europe, Hitler’s troops were destroying the Belgian, Dutch and French forces. If they destroyed the British forces at Dunkirk, Britain would be left virtually defenseless. In addition to the War in Europe, Churchill had his own political battles to fight at home.
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Photo of the Week – Our Common Dominican Journey: Ever Ancient, Ever New
“On December 4th, the First Sunday of Advent, more than 60 Sisters and Associates from Amityville, Blauvelt, Caldwell, Hope, Maryknoll and Sparkill gathered at Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center in Ossining, New York, to publicly acknowledge and bless Benincasa Community as a new and vibrant expression of Dominican life and mission.” Read article
Dominican Sisters of Amityville: Bethany House and Sister Aimee Koonmen Serving the Homeless for 40 Years
Bethany House and Dominican Sister of Amityville Aimee Koonmen were featured in the Long Island-wide newspaper, Newsday, for serving the homeless for 40 years. “Over the decades, Bethany House has grown to encompass five facilities that have helped thousands of people find shelter and hope.” Read article