SincethedeathofJesus,MaryMagdalenehaswithdrawnfromtheworld.Herhairhasturnedwhite,sheeatsberries,drinksrainwaterandsleepsamongthetrees.Aloneintheheartoftheforest,sheremembersherlostlove.Shelooksforawaytofindhim.
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Undertherain,inthewindorinthemist,throughforestsandcaves,littlebylittle,oneshotaftertheother,adeepmysteryunfurls.AmysterywhichisasthickasthecloakthatcoversMaryMagdalene.NotMarythegreatsinnernortheredeemedsoul,butthegreatloverwhostaysloyaluntiltheendtoherpassionforChrist.IsthisthepassionofabelieverinGod?Ortheoneofaloverforaman?Everycellofherbodyrememberstheirradiantencounterwhichhas,sinceithappened,illuminatedeverysinglemomentofherlife.
DamienManivel'scinematiccreationwrapsanebulousauraarounditsviewers.Itisasasceticinthewayittreatsitssubjectasitissensualinthewayitmakesusseethings.Itisparticularlyattentivetothebodiesandtothematerialityofspaceandtime,whichbothcarriesandpassesthrougheverylivingcreature.Thisduskymoviepropelsusintoaprimitivemystiquewhichhasnothingtodowithcandles,thuriblesand«OurFatherWhoartinheaven»prayers,andinwhichnatureandhallucinatedvisionsmakehumanfaithgobacktoitsoriginalpaganism.ThefilmmakerandhisactressElsaWolliaston,whoseexpressivityisstunning,succeedintransfiguringthecharacterofMaryMagdalene.TogethertheyclimbupthesteepslopesofLoveandFaithinbeauty.
