Maryel Locke and Charles Warren present twelve original essays by film critics, filmmakers, theologians, and philosophers that examine the 1985 film "Hail Mary, "directed by Jean-Luc Godard, and its companion film, "The Book of Mary, "directed by Anne-Marie Mieville. (The films are collectively released under the title "Hail Mary.) "The interpretative essays offer a rich spectrum of analysis and opinion representing many divergent points of view about critical theory, the status of women, and the value of film as a medium. Locke and Warren also include two important interviews with Godard, brief biographies and complete filmographies of Godard and Mieville, a short breakdown of the two films including the English subtitles, and the script of the French dialogue to complete a remarkably comprehensive treatment of this important film.

The only film based on the biblical story of the Virgin Mary, Godard s "Hail Mary "is a contemporary Swiss/French representation of Mary s virgin pregnancy, the birth of her son, and her relationship with Joseph and her young child. Mieville s companion film is about a young girl named Mary whose parents get a divorce. While neither film is overtly religious, the initial release of "Hail Mary "brought public protests, court cases, a physical attack on Godard, and condemnation by the Pope."