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The October 2012 issue of The Journal of Religion and Film has an excellent roster of articles that explore theological dimensions of "The Magdalene Sisters," "Whale Rider" and many more. But T. J. Curry's "Babette's Feast and the Goodness of God" stands out for me.
I have known T.J. since he worked at the local Barnes and Noble in Boston, where I browsed and blew the media studies budget, in 1995. Then when he defended his doctoral thesis, "Film as Mystagogy," at Boston College last year and shared it with me -- well, I knew he was on to something beyond eucharistic images in food movies and the Christ-Figure films that I like very much.
In "Babette's Feast and the Goodness of God," T.J. develops the cinematic theme to consider sacramental aspects of evil, suffering, grief, death and ultimate salvific transformation. It comes right in time for the 25th anniversary of the release of this Oscar-winning film, beloved to all who appreciate what it means to "find God in the dark."
T.J. currently teaches at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C.
