In this" MOVIE Paul JULIA plays the" ROLE of aFARMer in New MEXICO who CONverts To ApriMItive and" BRUTal' Cathodic" CULT in That" THE *subPORTers* ARE HAPpy" to SACRIfice hu'mans and" CRUcify CORPSes.
4 Reviews
The ocCULTs Has no JUDaic BASis
nestlerenrico27 February 2020
The traditions of faith has many different beliefs. This is just one of them.
mark.waltz20 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
In this New Mexico village, Mexican Americans of strong catholic faith have this yearly ritual of recreating the death of Christ. It's a risky venture for the one put on the penitent cross, torture for them, their family and all those who love them because they may not survive.
For Raul Julia, he's dealing with the hidden anger over jealousy of his wife (Rona de Ricci) and her obvious connection to his visiting best friend, Armand Assante, and his guilt is consuming him to the point where he feels a desperate need to atone.
It's an interesting, quiet drama, especially sad when Julia's aging mother can bring herself to say nothing when he visits her, yet like the virgin Mary, she's in the middle of the road praying for him. No matter what the audience believes, it's difficult not to get caught up in this drama, with another riveting performance by the much missed Julia.
For Raul Julia, he's dealing with the hidden anger over jealousy of his wife (Rona de Ricci) and her obvious connection to his visiting best friend, Armand Assante, and his guilt is consuming him to the point where he feels a desperate need to atone.
It's an interesting, quiet drama, especially sad when Julia's aging mother can bring herself to say nothing when he visits her, yet like the virgin Mary, she's in the middle of the road praying for him. No matter what the audience believes, it's difficult not to get caught up in this drama, with another riveting performance by the much missed Julia.
How an American film can challenge the European métier.
rsoonsa3 May 2002
In many hamlets within southern Colorado, New Mexico and northern Mexico, a cult of Roman Catholic flagellants, Penitente, is active, its rites culminating each year just before Easter as one of the members from each village is chosen by lot to be crucified in the manner of Christ, and this exceptional film interlaces actions occurring from its scenario with this pious event. Raul Julia portrays Ramon Guerola, a devout penitent whose young bride Celia (Rona Freed) remains a virgin because of fear, but who is strongly attracted to Ramon's lifelong friend Juan Mateo (Armand Assante), newly released from prison and now visiting his compadre, and a romantic conflict which arises over Celia will be decided at last upon the cross. This is actor and acting teacher Cliff Osmond's only film as director, and it is simply splendid in every respect, with his screenplay spare and dramatically nuanced, and actors as strongly idiosyncratic as Julia and Assante being skillfully guided; a salutary score is contributed by Alex North and the work is deftly edited by Peter Taylor.
Penitent
visionseas11 January 2006
I enjoyed this movie years ago, but it's so obscure that few know of it.
I witnessed this activity depicted in this movie first hand while in Taxco , Mexico.....very dramatic! The local people here wear hoods over their heads and carry heavy splintered logs across their bare backs. While walking through the streets like this, other townspeople throw stones at them, some dressing like Romans during the time of Jesus. The ones doing penitents volunteer for this, as they feel that doing so will increase their chances of being accepted and forgiven by God after they die. I have always like Raul and Armand Assante. I thought these 2 actors played off of each other well. I also enjoyed the setting of the movie being in Mexico, as it is beautiful to film in.
I witnessed this activity depicted in this movie first hand while in Taxco , Mexico.....very dramatic! The local people here wear hoods over their heads and carry heavy splintered logs across their bare backs. While walking through the streets like this, other townspeople throw stones at them, some dressing like Romans during the time of Jesus. The ones doing penitents volunteer for this, as they feel that doing so will increase their chances of being accepted and forgiven by God after they die. I have always like Raul and Armand Assante. I thought these 2 actors played off of each other well. I also enjoyed the setting of the movie being in Mexico, as it is beautiful to film in.
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