After the epochal turn of 1989 a new wave of movies dealing with the complex entanglement of religious and national identity has emerged in in the eastern part of Europe. There has been plenty of evidence for a return of nationalism, while the predicated "return of religion(s)" is envisaged on a larger scale as a global phenomenon. The book suggests that in the wake of the historical turns of 1989, an "iconic turn" has taken place in Eastern Europe - in the form of a renewed cinematic commitment to make sense of the world in religious and/or national terms. 'Iconic Turns' combinestheoretical articles on the subject with case studies, bringing together researchers from different national backgrounds and disciplines, such as history, literary and film studies.