Our first impression of Jaco Van Dormael‘s "The Brand New Testament" came from the above image, released circa the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight where it premiered, and it’s certainly an arresting visual. To be honest, we didn’t otherwise give much thought to the Catherine-Deneuve-ape-movie, as it became known around the office, but the joke is on us because with the year winding down, the film has become a major awards season contender.
Nominated for a Golden Globe, and on the Oscar shortlist for Best Foreign Film, the movie also stars Benoît Poelvoorde, Yolande Moreau, François Damiens and Pili Groyne, and tells an alternate theology tale in which God exists, and lives in Brussels. Here’s the synopsis:
Catching up with the movie at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Jessica Kiang called it "silly, sweet-natured and stylish." No word yet on when the movie might drop stateside, but check out the new international trailer below.
