Rene Clement’s Forbidden Games follows two young children attempting to find calm in a time of deep trauma, and the inability of the state of mid-century western religion, particularly spiritualism and organized Christianity, to help. Which is not to say that the particular parish priest in the film doesn’t try his best. The symbols, the ornaments, the gold adorning the altar, do little to relieve the very real pain of life. But they are also just a cursory understanding of religion anyway. Ceremony is useless without compassion. “A resounding gong” the Christi an Scriptures call it. The symbol of the Cross must be accompanied by the love of neighbor and enemy that the Cross symbolizes.

We talk religion on this week’s Lost in Criterion with Forbidden Games. Listen at LostInCriterion.com or on iTunes, where you could maybe drop a review of us? While you're at it, maybe like us on Facebook? Or consider supporting us through Patreon. We'd appreciate it.