Of all of the John Ford films I've seen, this is the only one that I would classify as "artsy." That isn't to say his other films have no artistic merit. Absolutely not. He's got a long list of films that are artistically brilliant as well plenty of popcorn films too. But this is the only one where it feels like Ford got lost in experimenting and trying something different instead of making a more solid film with a good story. The plot is about a priest (Henry Fonda) in some fictional Latin American country trying to get away from a government that has denounced religion and is looking to eliminate all religious leaders.
There's a lot of Christian symbolism in this one. If The Quiet Man was Ford's love letter to his Irish roots, this is Ford's love letter to his Catholicism. Both are deeply personal films for the director. The art-house feel of the film with the overtly religious nature of the story and its symbolism unfortunately will turn some viewers off. Some of the vitriol I've seen directed at this film on this basis is truly disturbing. I get not connecting with someone's religious or spiritual beliefs, but why react with hatred towards it? I don't get that. Nothing in this film warrants that kind of reaction. It's not offensive in the slightest. At its worst its simply dull.
Bizarre, fascinating, and a very different film for Ford. Admittedly it's heavy-handed at times but I think it has value. It's certainly a beautiful-looking film. If you're a fan of Ford or Fonda, you really should see it at least once. It's different enough to warrant you try it.
There's a lot of Christian symbolism in this one. If The Quiet Man was Ford's love letter to his Irish roots, this is Ford's love letter to his Catholicism. Both are deeply personal films for the director. The art-house feel of the film with the overtly religious nature of the story and its symbolism unfortunately will turn some viewers off. Some of the vitriol I've seen directed at this film on this basis is truly disturbing. I get not connecting with someone's religious or spiritual beliefs, but why react with hatred towards it? I don't get that. Nothing in this film warrants that kind of reaction. It's not offensive in the slightest. At its worst its simply dull.
Bizarre, fascinating, and a very different film for Ford. Admittedly it's heavy-handed at times but I think it has value. It's certainly a beautiful-looking film. If you're a fan of Ford or Fonda, you really should see it at least once. It's different enough to warrant you try it.