I love films that take belief seriously, the best example being the brilliant and shocking Breaking the Waves. I thought this might be in the same league and it certainly has a performance from the lead to match that of Emily Watson. The first half was building very well, but then it lost its way, and the remainder was jarring melodrama. The film ended up dismissing faith experienced at this level of intensity as evidence of derangement and social isolation, which was boringly unoriginal. Some great acting and excellent direction could not disguise the emptiness of the message.
Review of Saint Maud
