Blasphemy has been a part of cinema since its inception. In fact, this is one of the first films in history to delve into the life of Jesus Christ and the Vatican did not like it. The premiere took place in 1898 Life of Christproduction company Gomonunder the direction of French director Alice Guy. The film told the story of the birth, preaching and death of an important religious figure, without going into detail and more interested in the gory details of his murder. The film therefore infuriated those who wanted the plot to lean more towards the saintliness of the protagonist, or at least proclaim his more heavenly side. Even becoming an early religious classic, The reactionary French Catholic sector considered the film blasphemous.
This won’t be the first time. Plots that question religious dogma, tell twisted stories based on faith, and many other versions of confrontation with religion are common in films. And although a significant portion belongs to the horror genre, there are also a considerable number of films of other genres that scandalously reflect on beliefs. Not only Christians (although most of them belong to this area), but also those who question the validity of faith. through dozens of different shapes. The whole thing is scandalous and borders on downright offensive.
We leave you with ten blasphemous films that you can watch during Holy Week that will make you think about your position and spirituality. From the story of a miraculous conception that ended unsuccessfully to the confrontation between Hollywood and a mysterious sect. The selection takes us on a journey through various spaces capable of revealing grotesque, unpleasant and harsh views of faith. The point that unites them all and makes them cinematic rarities.
Agnes of God
Before Irreproachablewas Agnes of God and I play almost the same theme. Namely: a miraculous conception that ends in tragedy. Only if Sydney Sweeney’s film does it out of horror, director Norman Jewison’s version does it out of realism. When the main Newcomer (Meg Tilly) gets pregnant with no explanation as to how it could have happened, The monastery in which he is located will panic.
Things will get worse when the child dies and the investigation calls into question more than just the possibility of an incredible miracle. And also the innocence of Sister Agnes and everyone around. Questions about who the child’s father was and whether he could have been the one who killed him will become even more uncomfortable as it becomes apparent that the monastery is withholding information. For the ambiguous and rough ending, Agnes of Godwill make it clear that In fact, no one had their hands clean of blood when they bowed before the altar.
Salo, or 120 days of Sodom
In 1976, director Pier Paolo Pasolini – an atheist and communist – decided that now was the right time to adapt the Marquis de Sade’s polemic. Only instead of focusing on the erotic imagery of the novel’s many characters, he did so from a dangerous angle. This is nothing more than the conversion of a group of perverted people. from the prelates of the Italian Catholic Church, with the power to torture and rape a group of young people.
This insolence cost Pasolini dearly, who became a known enemy of the institution and was threatened with excommunication. What’s irreparable is that the director made it clear that the disturbing film, which includes brutal and graphic scenes of sexual violence, reflects his views on conservatism and Catholicism. It is considered both a work of art and a collection of terrifying scenes. Salo, or 120 days of Sodom, This is one of the most blasphemous films ever made.
Brian’s life
Monty Python made fun of every possible subject in cinema, and the same is true with religion. In 1979 Brian’s life He told a transgressive, humorous and whimsical version of the life of Christ. Or rather, a person who was born on the same day as an important historical figure and was eventually considered a prophet. This sets up a series of hilarious situations in the film that poke fun at not only Jesus Christ, but also his time and a long list of biblical characters.
And although director Terry Jones’s intention was not to cause scandal – and not only that – he ultimately earned reproaches from Christian groups and all sorts of criticism. Of course, the incorrigible group of comedians didn’t take it too seriously and continued to insist over the years that the film was a loving tribute to Catholics. At least from his strange point of view.
The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1955, Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis outraged very orthodox Greece with his exploration of Jesus Christ at his most human. ANDThe book, which included sex scenes and the possibility of a religious figure abandoning his mission, outraged a significant portion of readers. Thus, its adaptation in 1988 was already a difficult task.
But director Martin Scorsese – a devout Catholic who often explores religious guilt in films – made things worse. The film baffled a very young Willem Dafoe as Jesus and Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene. Not only for showing scenes of intimacy between both characters, but also for the controversial episode in which Jesus Christ imagines his life without going through his terrible death. Although Scorsese would later say that this was a loving tribute to his religion, it actually infuriated audiences and made the film taboo for years.
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown’s bestseller did what seemed impossible. Disgusting historians, art curators and Catholics all at once, for an idea that seemed to ridicule everyone. The story of how Robert Langdon – boring Tom Hanks – discovers that the mythical Priory of Sion Not only is it real, but it also protects the descendants of Jesus and has caused a sensation. This has already been done by a novel, full of errors of interpretation and exaggeration, telling the same story.
But, as expected, the film moved on. First of all, for taking upon himself the accusations made against Opus Dei as a violent sect and turning it into the center of the conflict. While the characters walked from one place to another, reciting useless information out loud to each other, The Da Vinci Code It was more interesting because of what it offered. A massive conspiracy that turned the Vatican into a great enemy. And although the dispute moved away from controversy, the discontent of the high prelates of the Church did not disappear so easily.
Stigma
Catholic relics and traditions often become part of the most scandalous movie plots. But in 1999, director Rupert Wainwright took the above and turned it into an awkward procedural. Halfway between searching for answers to a phenomenon that cannot be defined and a mysterious death. Stigma It seemed to combine two scenarios at once.
On the one hand, there is the terrifying experience of Frankie Page (Patricia Arquette), who begins to develop so-called stigmata on her skin. Nothing more than signs imitating the wounds of Jesus Christ on the cross, without any explanation of anything like that. On the other hand, the mysterious death of a priest will prompt Father Andrew Kiernan (Gabriel Byrne) to try to discover a second cause for Frankie’s symptoms. Stigma He drew the ire of the church by revealing a fact considered sacred as part of a cover-up of a crime.
Exorcist
The queen of all horror films, she also has a lot of blasphemy. From Reagan (Linda Blair) loudly reciting passages from the Bible and cutting herself with a crucifix, to the desecration of a church. The truth is that William Peter Blatty’s work, which was made into a film by William Friedkin, takes faith into dangerous terrain.
Besides the scenes of violence, green vomit and a possessed girl walking down the stairs backwards, there is a lot of theological reflection here. At the same time, it is an exploration of morality, the power of belief, and the wounds of skepticism. An interesting context for a film that could simply be an effective provocation and This eventually became an issue at every level of faith.
Path
In 2008, Javier Fesser’s film examined the story of the girl in the process of beatification, Alexia Gonzalez Barrios, from the point of view of her cancer process. Which led Camino to veiled criticism of some of the principles of Opus Dei. In particular, to the medical decisions made by the family to maintain their health.
And although the director has repeatedly said that this is a free version of the story, the film was attacked by both parents and extreme right-wing conservative groups. In the end, Pathwhich pays tribute to its central figure more humanely than his supposedly divine features have caused unpleasant controversy.
Gospel of Matthew
Before you earn Catholic hatred with your Salo, or 120 days of Sodom, in 1964 Pier Paolo Pasolini angered his fellow communists. And he did this by presenting the life of Jesus Christ (played by Spaniard Enrique Irazoqui) in the most faithful and convincing way possible. What the Italian left party considered a betrayal. Moreover, when the film ended, it became clear that the work was dedicated to the late Pope John XXIII.
A thoughtful, profound and artistically eloquent work, Gospel of Matthew This caused a furor among the parishioners. He received three Oscar nominations and won an extraordinary trophy in Venice. This, while the left revolutionaries demanded Pasolini provides the “ideological strength” of religion.
Master: Every person needs a mentor
In 2012, director Paul Thomas Anderson made this apparent epic about a man creating a religion. But what starts out as an uplifting debate ends up taking on all sorts of dark twists. when a new religious organization becomes popular among millionaires and influential people.
Does this sound familiar to you? You are right: this is a critical look at the founding of Scientology. Moreover, the main character, played by the huge Philip Seymour Hoffman, has more evil than blissful traits. The result is criticism of sects, the use of religion as a business and many other issues. A message that angered the powerful sect in many ways.
Source: Hiper Textual
