Can movies help us understand life? This flawed book attempts to find out

A Whole Life in Twelve Movies promises readers “a journey through life, spirituality and what it means to be human”. But our reviewer says it stumbles along the way

In A Whole Life in Twelve Movies: a Cinematic Journey to a Deeper Spirituality, (Brazos Press) American poet Kathleen Norris and peace activist Gareth Higgins discuss movies that can help us better understand our lives from beginning to end. Each chapter turns the spotlight on a different film, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Malcolm X and Babette’s Feast. Through the course of the book, Norris and Higgins aim to take a cinematic path to reflecting on universal topics like belonging, vocation, identity, success, generosity, dealing with conflict, and what it means to be human.

If that sounds like perhaps too broad a range of topics, it’s because it is. The authors are clearly aiming to write a book with a universal scope, but by trying to write something for everyone, it ends up being something for no-one. There are hints of a book I’d like to read. What Higgins recounts about the story of Christian de Chergé, an abbot who wrote a letter pre-emptively forgiving his future assassins will stay with me. But no sooner have we started to get into something interesting, than we’re onto the next, seemingly unconnected topic. The authors write with some sensitivity about difficult topics like death and personal healing. So if it were, say, ‘Twelve Movies Dealing with Grief’ it might be invaluable. As it stands, it is difficult to see who the audience for this book is.

Another barrier to this book finding a home is the choice of films. The stated aim for this book is for it to be used as a resource to guide individuals and groups to watch and discuss movies over the course of a year. But there are barriers. Chapter seven’s films to watch are Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) and Love Is Strange (2014). Putting aside that this is one of the chapters that focuses on two films rather than one (making it ‘A Whole Life In Fourteen Movies’), Make Way for Tomorrow is one of the films selected that is not available to rent, buy or