Holy Smoke

A young Australian woman, P.J. Waters, becomes involved with a charismatic guru and his spiritual movement while traveling in India. Her concerned mother hires an American 'exit counselor' named Tony Shepherd to bring her daughter back home. Tony employs unconventional methods to deprogram P.J., leading to a complex psychological battle between the two as their intentions and desires become increasingly blurred.

Holy Smoke! received mixed to positive reviews from critics. While many praised Jane Campion's distinctive direction and the powerful performances of its lead actors, particularly Kate Winslet, some found the film's exploration of cults and manipulation to be somewhat uneven or melodramatic. Audiences were divided, with some appreciating its intense psychological drama and others finding its subject matter and pacing challenging.

• Praised for its bold exploration of faith, manipulation, and female agency.

• Kate Winslet's performance is frequently cited as a standout, capturing the character's complex journey.

• Some critics found the film's narrative structure and thematic resolution to be less successful than its compelling premise.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's intense psychological drama and the performances, especially Kate Winslet's. However, some found the storyline to be unsettling or difficult to fully connect with, leading to a moderately positive overall reception.

Nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Jane Campion originally envisioned the film as a comedy, but the script evolved into a more intense psychological drama during the writing process.