I thought "The Temptation of Christ" was sacrilegious, but this movie by far is the most sacrilegious film I've ever seen to date.
I don't know a lot about anything but I know a little about practically everything
Vincent Price
Superficially it might be, but underneath i'm not so sure.
"You wouldn't know crazy if Charles Manson was eating Fruit Loops on your front porch."
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I agree with you wholeheartedly on this point. It is a film about religion but NOT a religious film. The story is all about Hell on Earth -- and the horrors people impose on themselves and others. If anything, THE DEVILS might make some of the "faithful" consider atheism as a better alternative.
shareYou from the National Legion of Decency, or something?
sharebeing raised Catholic the raping of Christ was by any standards "wrong"
I don't know a lot about anything but I know a little about practically everything
Vincent Price
being raised Catholic the raping of Christ was by any standards "wrong"
(long weary sigh)
Schindler's List depicts anti-Semitism. That doesn't make it an anti-Semitic film.
The TV series Roots depicts racism. That doesn't make it a racist series.
The Devils depicts blasphemy. That doesn't make it a blasphemous film.
One of the reasons Ken's films are so great is that they are often highly critical of organized religion and call it what it really is. In "Tommy" the holiday camp at the end of the film was a money grubbing cash cow that brought in gullible people looking for enlightenment.
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Were you totally unaffected by the scenes of Grandier quietly atoning for his sins out in the wilderness? That's real spiritual enlightenment, and should be the sort of thing a truly religious person would appreciate.
Exactly! The historical facts as described in Huxley's book are far more vile, blasphemous, perverted and sadistic than anything in Russell's film.
Grandier's spiritual rebirth (in the Lake District, as it happens!) and his ability to endure appalling torments rather than deny his faith make The Devils one of the most profound cinematic comments on religion ever made.
L'Age d'or and Lunacy could give it a run for its money. It's not that the blasphemy depicted in them is exceptionally worse than in The Devils, but the attitude of both are much more anticlerical, anti-Catholic, and anti-religious in general. Not that the Devils is much less so, but there is some redemption to be found.
I forgot to mention that I love them for that reason.
Too close to the bone eh????
shareThe crime of "blasphemy" was cooked up by religious institutions who considered any "unholy" depiction of God, Christ, or the church to be a crime. They would not delve into the nuances of what Russell "intended." To most observant Catholics and Christians in general, the movie is blasphemous! I cannot fault them for believing this, but they have no right to deprive me of enjoying the film. Blasphemy can also be beautiful. And Russell made a beautiful film!
shareYeah I like this movie a lot.
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