Abstract
Film and Religion in 20th Century Europa
The article focuses on the conflict zones and compromises of the ambivalent relationship which developed between film and religion in Europe. European film production was more reluctant than Hollywood to treat Biblical themes; on the other hand, the Christian Churches oscillated between damning, controlling and producing their own films. Their censorship and criticism were frequently the occasion of stormy internal debates about Church strategy toward the decline of traditional religiosity. Subjects such as the position and role of the pastor in his congregation and the lives of the saints were made into films; specific religious themes, however, remained rare. For the historian, these films offer symptomatic indicators of sensitivities, complex problems and uncertainties concerning religious life at the time.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.