Faith
— “Faith” was shown at the 2020 True/False Film Fest and, for T/F festival films, I’m giving a general reaction to the viewing experience, followed by the film’s description as it appeared on the festival website.
I chose to see this film more out of curiosity than anything, wondering what a blend of Shaolin and Catholic doctrines might be. My reaction wasn’t great, but I stayed with it, my interest still piqued thanks to its cult undercurrents and uncomfortable aura. I guess it was, as advertised, “serene and unsettling,” but that’s about all it was—I wasn’t able get beyond those feelings to something I wanted to keep with me.
Description from the T/F website: “At a rural Italian monastery, the Warriors of Light adhere to a curious blend of kung fu, Shaolin doctrine, and Catholicism. At the behest of their Master, the warriors engage in highly strenuous daily athletics. These routines put the disciples under intense psychological pressures – all with the impending threat of being banished from the community. After 11 years of dedicated documentation, shooting entirely in black and white, director Pendicini molds her film as an entrancing religious thriller. The aesthetic choices provide a stark visual reckoning for the followers who question their values of faith, freedom, and society, while fully immersing the viewer in a world that’s both serene and unsettling.”
I chose to see this film more out of curiosity than anything, wondering what a blend of Shaolin and Catholic doctrines might be. My reaction wasn’t great, but I stayed with it, my interest still piqued thanks to its cult undercurrents and uncomfortable aura. I guess it was, as advertised, “serene and unsettling,” but that’s about all it was—I wasn’t able get beyond those feelings to something I wanted to keep with me.
Description from the T/F website: “At a rural Italian monastery, the Warriors of Light adhere to a curious blend of kung fu, Shaolin doctrine, and Catholicism. At the behest of their Master, the warriors engage in highly strenuous daily athletics. These routines put the disciples under intense psychological pressures – all with the impending threat of being banished from the community. After 11 years of dedicated documentation, shooting entirely in black and white, director Pendicini molds her film as an entrancing religious thriller. The aesthetic choices provide a stark visual reckoning for the followers who question their values of faith, freedom, and society, while fully immersing the viewer in a world that’s both serene and unsettling.”
[2019. 93 min. Directed by Valentina Pedicini.]
https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/faith-review-1203414235/
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