In Dear Movies, Peter Malone draws on his long experience of film reviewing and of writing and leading workshops on films and values.  He has often been asked, 'What's your favourite film?'  Dear Movies is part of his answer.

He as chosen to write letters to over 100 movies, each letter beginning a conversation with the film, opening up some of their themes, their ways of telling stories, their roles as fables and parables.  He also shares what each movie means to him, inviting us - the readers - to discover our dear movies: how the movies we enjoy help us to explore values, offering insights into the spirituality of daily living and more demanding challenges.

He remembers that Jesus told stories about the ordinary, familiar things of everyday life - stories that still teach us to look more deeply into ourselves and identify what is real, lasting, precious, encouraging, difficult and demanding.

This is the kind of storytelling we look for in films.  Dear Movies reminds us that while we have always looked for values and spirituality in music, in the visual arts, in theatre, in poetry and novels, movies too invite us to share experiences and to connect film with our understanding of God's purposes for our lives.

Reading Peter's Dear Movies is more than a joy and revelation.  It is a reminder of the power of pictures, and the important role movies still play in al our lives today - Foreward by Jan Epstein.

About the Author

Peter Malone is a Missionary of the Sacred Heart who has taught Old Testament Studies and Theology at the Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne.  He also headed the Catholic Film Offices of the Pacific and Film Offices at world level, including being President of SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication) 2001-205. He has written a number of books of religion and film, especially Screen Jesus. He has been reviewing films since 1968.