The Brand New Testament – Film Review by Frank L.

Directed by Jaco van Dormael

Writers: Thomas Gunzig, Jaco Van Dormael
Stars: Pili Groyne, Benoît Poelvoorde, Catherine Deneuve

The opening sur title is “God exists. He lives in Brussels”… God as depicted by van Dormael is a nasty bit of goods- a tyrannical, arbitrary bully dressed as a non-descript curmudgeon in the twenty-first century. Refreshingly, however, his son JC does not take centre stage in this tale. It is God’s daughter Ea, the sister of JC, who is the narrator. Needless to say it is all somewhat profane.

Ea is conscious that JC has gone before her so she does take some advice from him about whom she should have as disciples. On splendidly irrational grounds she decides on six as the right number. She then sets out to find them. They are an eclectic bunch.

She deeply dislikes God and his omnipotence. She decides he needs to be cut down to size. God controls when people die and he stores this information in his computer. Ea decides to hack into his computer and find out this information. She then distributes the information. God’s arbitrary power is greatly reduced. A new dynamic is created.

Having a nodding acquaintance with the Bible is useful in that there are constant biblical references, for example the opening sequence is entitled “Genesis”.  JC rather charmingly appears as a very familiar statue on top of a wardrobe in Ea’s bedroom. But modern technology is also to the fore with the mobile phone being used by God to get his message across which is a delight. However Ea’s cunning in subverting this skill is even more delightful. The whole structure of the film is splendidly wacky not least that the story of God is told by his daughter.

If you are of a high Christian religious sensibility it would probably be wise to avoid this film because of its profanity. For the rest, go to this film, relax and inwardly chuckle.