The Testament of Ann Lee - BFI London Film Festival

 

Though there have been biographies that try to offer another way to tell a story, biographical films end up in the drama or comedy arenas with fair to middling results. But add in the founding of religion, a lot of choral singing and chanting and most importantly, dancing that will keep you captivated from start to finish and you have the making of something completely different. Directed by Mona Fastvold and co-written with Brady Corbet, The Testament Ann Lee is unlike anything you’ve seen in a very long time. 

This is the story of Ann Lee, or Mother Ann as she was eventually known as. From her harsh beginnings to her going on to becoming a founder of the Shakers religious sect in the 18th Century, starting in Manchester, UK and taking her followers to America.

Full review over at Late Night Picture Show

Saint Clare

 

Religion and horror go together like bread and butter. Add in a devout protagonist who believes all the murders she commits is an act of god and you’re looking at a somewhat enticing premise. Though Bella Thorne made her name from playing mean girls and evil ditzy types, here, she is Clare. She believes in god, attends church, sings in the choir but also struggles with her compulsives need to kills people. Having done the festival circuit in 2024, Saint Clare is finally making her way to our small screens. Unfortunately, this is not quite the film that was herald.

College student Clare appears normal on the surface but tries hard to hide sociopathic tendencies. When girls start disappearing from her small town, with little concern from the police, Clare takes the investigation into her own hands when one of her friends goes missing.

Full review on Filmhounds. 

Immaculate

 

Religion and horror go hand in hand, for obvious reasons, with the most popular being Catholicism. Fire and brimstone, hell and the devil, there’s too much temptation to take this religion to it’s darker corners. Immaculate is Sydney Sweeney’s passion project, having been attached to the film for years and eventually ended up being one of the producers as well as starring. This does seem, on the surface, an unlikely role for her to take on. But as soon as Cecilia arrives on screen, as the sweet and somewhat naïve novice nun, it becomes very clear that this is exactly the role Sweeney should be playing. 

No sooner as Cecilia arrives at the impressive convent buried in the Italian countryside, there is an ominous atmosphere that all is not what it seems. Anyone well versed with horror films that focus on religion will recognise the story beats and settle in nicely for the bizarre events ahead. Immaculate hams up the horror to the max, with jump scares every five minutes it feels, mixed in with some disturbing dream sequences that may be real after all. But as every character Cecilia interacts with feels like an omen or doomed ally, this sense of dread is constant leaving very little mystery. 

For those who enjoy an ominous horror and the company of nuns easily manipulated by a priest (as they always seem to be) will enjoy this blood-filled holy fest. Sweeney herself is actually pretty good throughout but her shining moment is at the climax of the film, caked in blood, having a very cathartic primal scream. However, all, the film is entertaining but it doesn’t rise above others made of the same ilk. The mystery is thin and the premise intriguing but nothing that shocking when you realise what’s going on in the catacombs. The fact that this film was stuck in development for a years does show, but luckily Sweeney sticks with it to give the film that shining moment.

Are You There God? It's Me, Katie

Reading this iconic book by Judy Blume felt like a right of passage. My mum had bought it for my older sister originally and by the time I was 11 or 12, it was my turn to read it. At first it felt like a forbidden ‘grown up’ book but I soon realised it was for any pre-teen, or teenager to consume. Back in those days, I liked to read often and faster than I do now. True to my own personality, once I’d read one Judy Blume book, I had to read more. Books were also a lot cheaper in the late 90s/early 00s which meant I could pick up lots of books at a time. But unfortunately, I can’t remember much about any of the Judy Blume books I read, except for the seminal, Are You There God? It’s me Margaret. 

I thought it was odd that this book, which everyone seemed to know, whether they read it or not, had never been adapted into a film or TV series. But here we are 20 years after I read the book, a film has finally been made and its feels true to the book, as far as I can remember anyway. Originally the book met with controversy because the frank discussions about menstruation and the fact that Margaret is allowed to choose her own religion, because of course that’s controversial for the 70s. Only now are these kinds of discussions becoming more frequent and normalised. Though I never understood by Margaret and her friends desperately wanted their periods. The hell storm and pain that is causes many women; you would have thought you’d want that occurrence delayed as much as possible. 

Played by Abbey Ryder Fortson in the film, Margaret is as insecure and concerned about growing up as much as possible to fit in with her new friends. She has the contained, sometimes humorous conversations with God, wanting advice and wondering what religion she should choose. Her curious nature and her parents openness, allows her to explore the possibilities. I had forgotten how much religions plays a part in the story and how this choice Margaret feels she has to make weighs on her throughout the film (and book). The film differs from the book in concentrating on Margaret’s parents and her bellowed grandmother, which I was concerned would feel forced as these actors are the ‘famous’. But the scenes and storylines with the adult characters actually made the story more grounded and felt less like a pre-teen coming of age drama. The film felt more about family with Margaret at the centre. 

 

Judy Blume herself was one of the producers on the film, which probably meant, this was the right time to adapt this story. The author even said ‘the film is better than the book!’. For anyone who hasn’t read the book, its an enjoyable story with a talented new lead. For those who grew up with the book, it’ll take you back to when you first read it.

Benedetta

 
Controversy and Paul Verhoeven are familiar with each other, whether it’s for a reveal in a shot that is talked about for years later, or for one of the most loved ‘so bad its good’ films made or for his subject matters of his later films. His latest, Benedetta, didn’t escape controversy when the film was selected for a festival in the US and the local Catholic group protested it. Even before all of this excitement, the premise alone attracted speculation and if we’re all being honest, titillation. But as always Verhoeven tricks us with this smoke screen of expectation that there will be something to shock us when in fact he delivers a thrilling story that happens to involve a lesbian nun who claimed to have visions of Jesus.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE. 

Zine Scene

Leading up to my blog's 10th Anniversary, I had hoped to reveal or start something bigger than planned but I'm still quite please with what's coming. Hopefully it will be coupled with a change of scenary but until March 17th (yes, I know that's St Patrick's Day, it just so happened that way) I can show what I've made in the last few months.

Usually I pick a film I've written a longer piece about but for the last two I chose because both films were made by women, with female characters front and centre. I loved both films for different reasons and wanted to celebrate further. The zines are just something I enjoy doing if you're curious as why I make them. I'm hoping I can add PDF versions to my blog or website in the near future so everyone can see them and not just the lucky few who get physical copies.

Back in October, I was lucky to see Saint Maud again in the cinema and with a socially distanced full room. It was a great experience and thinking back it really makes me miss cinema more and more. I made a zine to celebrate the film further at the end of last year, one I'm really proud of.

Both films have received nominations at various awards. Waiting for the BAFTA nominations to come out but I'm really hoping both get some recognition.  

Yes God Yes

 

Coming of age can be through many things, not always but usually related to sex. A teenager, or younger or someone in their early twenties, goes through a change, experience or trauma and they come out the other side with a new perspective, a different person, enlightened. But sometimes, the change at first is so small in comparison to everything else going on around the character, but in fact it’s simply a realisation but by no means insignificant. One of the most joyous things about this film is the title, literally nailing this pure feeling of ecstasy and incorporating the oppressed religious aspect of the narrative. And the title is just the tip of the delightful iceberg. 

 

 

After being accused of ‘tossing a boy’s salad’ at a party, Alice is left bewildered at what that even means as well as an outsider when even her best friend doesn’t believe her. It also doesn’t help that Alice is starting to have sexual urges, even going so far as to go into online chatrooms and finding relief for her desires by masturbating to the sex scene in Titanic. Being part of a very strict Catholic school and brought up in a very Christian home including going to church every week with her Dad, Alice is conflicted by her shame and desire. She decides to attend a religious retreat to try and suppress her urges but after discovering some contradictions in the teachings forced upon her when she finds out what the retreat leaders are doing when no one is watching, Alice starts to see things beyond the rose-tinted rules she’s been told to live by. 

 

Rarely seen in film, let alone teen comedies or dramas, the moment when a teenage girl discovers masturbation, her sexual appetite and the yearning for more exploration. Some films have got this completely on point like in ‘Turn Me on Goddammit’ but ‘Yes God Yes’ portrays this lesser seen moment in film rather well. It’s a strange thing to note that teen films are usually all about the boys wanting sex and the girls are just there as props sometimes willing to join in the fun but having this moment on screen for other teenage girls to see that they are completely normal gives me hope that this is accepted and will be normalised in future films. Including the religious element to the character and her surroundings adds a whole other level to explore. 

 

 

The flawed teachings of abstinence and how it breeds ignorance and shame is explored but as this isn’t what the whole story is about, it only scratches the surface and focuses more on the hypocrisy of those teaching these rules. Religion is used as blanket reason for everyone’s actions and doesn’t overtly say that everything is wrong but merely shows that you can think differently and in the end you can believe what you want, know your own truths and most importantly, it is completely normal to be a teenager and be sexual active.

 

 

On a personal note, having been brought up Catholic (in a non-strict religious home), I am always fascinated by the stories that come from a place I knew so well. School for me was very different but there was always this judgement around sexual health and biology. I remember countless classes about birth and conception but barely a class on safe sex. I think there was one or two classes and that was it. Everything I learnt on this subject was outside of school. Not to mention, no classes whatsoever on sexual desires and health. This was all ignored, seems odd, especially for a girl’s school. But maybe the Catholic part deemed this unimportant.