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Cannes Film Festival 2015

Le Tout Nouveau Testament (The Brand New Testament)

Cannes Film Festival 2015: Le Tout Nouveau Testament (The Brand New Testament) | Review
18 May 2015
Nina Hudson
Avatar
Nina Hudson
18 May 2015

Movie and show review

Nina Hudson

Le Tout Nouveau Testament (The Brand New Testament)

★★★★★

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Special event

Cannes Film Festival 2015

13th to 24th May 2015

So, does God exist? Jaco Van Dormael’s Le Tout Nouveau Testament (The Brand New Testament) puts a rather big question to bed once and for all. The answer is yes. God exists and he lives in Brussels with his wife and daughter, Ea (Píli Groyne). As it turns out, though, our Almighty Father is a bit of a bastard.brandnew

The ten-year-old Ea decides she’s had enough of her father’s tyranny and temper tantrums, setting out to put an end to his cruel and capricious reign over mankind. She writes a new and improved testament of her own, but not before throwing a rather large proverbial spanner in the works for her father: Ea sends out text messages to everyone on the planet with the exact date and time of their deaths.

Following her brother’s example, Ea recruits a number of disciples, and performs a few small miracles that succeed in transforming the lives of her new friends. Within a cast that includes the likes of Catherine Deneuve, François Damiens, and Benoît Poelvoorde as God, Groyne demonstrates her talent and perfect ease opposite her co-stars.

The marvellous integration of animation into a live-action film inspires the qualities of a fairytale, overflowing with originality and wit. As hilarious as it is imaginative, the film is itself a testament to the absurdity of human beings and their relationship with religion. Even without any particular religious education, the jokes and references made about Christianity are easy to follow and fully appreciate. 

The playful blend of filming techniques, different aesthetics and fantastic elements comes together to illustrate Van Dormael’s unique artistry and, in keeping with the twist on the subject of religion, celebrates humans’ boundless capacity for imagination.

It’s rare that a film will manage to keep a smile on your face from beginning to end. Such a divinely entertaining story is sure to become a cult classic.

★★★★★

Nina Hudson

Le Tout Nouveau Testament (The Brand New Testament) does not yet have a UK release date.

Read more of our reviews and interviews from the festival here.

For further information about Cannes Film Festival 2015 visit here.

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Movie and show review

Nina Hudson

Le Tout Nouveau Testament (The Brand New Testament)

★★★★★

Links

FacebookWebsite

Special event

Cannes Film Festival 2015

13th to 24th May 2015

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