The Brand New Testament | Film review - God is a grumpy bully

(Image credit: © Metrodome Pictures)

In surreal, teasingly blasphemous Belgian fable The Brand New Testament, God is a grumpy bully who lives in a Brussels high-rise and gets his kicks tormenting humanity.

The Brand New Testament Catherine Deneuve

God exists. But he’s a grumpy bully who lives in a Brussels high rise and gets his kicks tormenting humanity with his endless laws of universal annoyance. Then his rebellious 10-year-old daughter, Ea (Pili Groyne), hacks his computer and takes away his power by releasing the death dates for every living person. With her father in pursuit, the escaping Ea sets about recruiting six apostles and writing her own New Testament.

Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael's surreal, teasingly blasphemous fable The Brand New Testament is consistently playful and amusing. And surprising, too. Who ever thought they would see Catherine Deneuve in bed with a gorilla?

Certificate 15. Runtime 115 mins. Director Jaco Van Dormael

Brand New Testament debuts on Sky Cinema Premiere on 12 April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-v-Sw4yzLA

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A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.