Coen Brothers 'Gospel' Explored in New Book

Award-Winning Religion Journalist, Cathleen Falsani, to Examine the
Theological Messages of the Filmmaking Team

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Award winners Joel
and Ethan Coen are the subject of a new book to be published by Zondervan and
written by award-winning Chicago Sun-Times columnist Cathleen Falsani.
Scheduled for release in Spring 2009, The Dude Abides: The Gospel
According to the Coen Brothers will look at the filmmakers' presentation of
serious existential and theological questions using the dark, intelligent
humor and epic storytelling that have been their trademarks in more than a
dozen films during the past 25 years.
The Dude Abides will be a chronological examination of the Coen brothers'
oeuvre -- every film they have directed together, as well as the films for
which they have written original screenplays and those they have adapted from
existing material. Falsani will investigate the theological, mythological,
moral, ethical, religious and philosophical content and what their overarching
message -- their "Gospel" -- might be.
Following the tradition of The Gospel According to the Simpsons, The
Gospel According to Disney and The Gospel According to Oprah, The Dude Abides
will turn a journalist's eye on the Coen Brothers' particular brand of popular
culture to explore "the moral and existential questions and answers --
God-stuff, really -- put forth in scenarios and situations where some folks
might say God isn't supposed to show up," Falsani says. "I see a large
audience of avid fans who want to explore the transcendent depths of the
Coens' work, as well as those readers who are simply interested in the
intersection between popular culture and spirituality."
From their 1984 debut, "Blood Simple," through their most recent work, "No
Country for Old Men," which recently was honored with 4 Oscars, each of the
Coen Brothers' films probes ethical and spiritual quandaries. -- "Blood
Simple" is the story of a man with serious doubts, and what
happens when he attempts to discover what the "truth" is.
-- In "Barton Fink," the title character, a successful New York playwright
turned Hollywood screenwriter, mortgages his soul as he struggles with
terminal writers block among the residents of, what may be, hell-fire,
demons and all.
-- "The Big Lebowski" chronicles the misadventures of the Dude -- stoner,
pacifist, philosopher -- as he attempts to right some wrongs and
vanquish the powers of nihilism and moral turpitude.
-- "O Brother Where Art Thou" follows the odyssey (spiritual and
otherwise) of three convicts, a skeptic searching for his way home and
two seeking redemption from their sins.
-- "No Country for Old Men" is an epic, prophetic journey that tackles one
of theology's most daunting conundrums, theodicy -- if God is good then
why doesn't God intervene to stop unrelenting violence -- and surmises
that we don't really know what God is thinking.

About Cathleen Falsani
Cathleen Falsani is the Author of The God Factor and Sin Boldly: A Field
Guide for Grace. She is an award-winning religion columnist for the Chicago
Sun-Times. A graduate of Wheaton College, Falsani holds masters degrees in
journalism and theology. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and
fellow journalist, Maurice Possley.
About Zondervan
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Zondervan is the world's leading
Christian publisher of books whose authors are noted for their excellence in
the craft of writing as well as their worthy contribution to the ongoing
global evangelical conversation. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has
delivered transformational Christian experiences by influential leaders and
emerging voices, and has been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any
other publisher. Visit Zondervan at www.zondervan.com/books .
SOURCE Zondervan

Karen Campbell of Zondervan, +1-616-698-3246, Karen.campbell@zondervan.com