Hadewijch (2009)

Director:

Bruno Dumont

Writer:

Bruno Dumont (written by)

Release Date:

25 November 2009 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Cast

Julie Sokolowski	...	Céline / Hadewijch
Yassine Salime	...	Yassine
David Dewaele	...	David
Karl Sarafidis	...	Nassir
Brigitte Mayeux-Clerget	...	La mère supérieure
Michelle Ardenne	...	La prieure
Sabrina Lechêne	...	La novice
Marie Castelain	...	La mère de Céline
Luc-François Bouyssonie	...	Le père de Céline

Runtime:

Canada:120 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Canada:120 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Company:

3B Productions

Full of gaping plot holes that render the movie pointless

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Saw this movie at the NY Film Festival. It was an OK movie until Celine appeared unharmed after the bomb explosion, which opens a gaping plot hole and begs the question, "why did the terrorists need her in the first place if all they were going to do it plant a bomb?" All throughout the movie, it was hinting that she would be a suicide bomber, yet after they got on the train together, and the bomb exploded, yet she survived, it rendered the entire movie completely pointless! Any terrorist could plant a bomb, and did not need her! I felt so angry like a part of my life has been wasted. This movie could have been so much more, yet the director did not have the guts to take more chances and did not even test his script or film before showing the finished product! This renders him incompetent. How did the police know to question Celine, but they did not arrest her? Why did she go back to the convent? Why were the nuns calling her Hadewijch if that was the Muslim name she took with Nassir? How did she get brainwashed between one scene to the next? The "thrash accordion" music was funny, intentionally or not. What kind of a thrash band has a saxophone and plays off key, let alone accordion? The guy with the guitar was in the back. The movie could have been so much better, the cinematography was great, the acting OK, the plot could have been more solid. The director needs to re-shoot most of the ending. The Christ-like figure in the end who saves her is a nice touch. Jesus was a carpenter; this worker guy is a stone layer. The theme of the movie is "Christ is all around you", and the "invisible", and yet she passes him throughout the movie without noticing him at all. She finally found her true love who saved her from herself. I don't know how the director will include that when she blows herself up, but that's for him to figure out when he fixes his film. He needed to take bigger chances to get a better film out of this.