Movie spotlight
Hosanna
Hosanna is a 1973 play by French-Canadian writer Michel Tremblay. The story takes place in the Montreal, Quebec apartment of Hosanna, a drag queen dressed as Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra, and centres on the relationship between her and Cuirette, an aging "stud" and gay biker, after they have returned from a Halloween party. The play deals with several issues including gender identity, sexual identity, the ignorance and acceptance of ageing, and social expressions of homosexuality. Hosanna discusses her relationship with her mother and shows her anxieties over her knowledge of who she really is.
Insights
Plot Summary
An aging, wealthy industrialist becomes infatuated with a young, enigmatic woman he meets on a luxurious train. As their journey progresses, he finds himself increasingly drawn into her complex life, which seems to be entangled with mystery and potential danger. Their relationship evolves against a backdrop of opulent settings and simmering emotional tension.
Critical Reception
Critically, 'Hosanna' received a mixed to negative reception. While some critics praised Antonioni's visual style and the performances of Golino and Mastroianni, many found the plot to be underdeveloped and the characters' motivations unclear. The film was seen by some as a lesser work in Antonioni's esteemed filmography, lacking the thematic depth and narrative coherence of his earlier masterpieces.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its beautiful cinematography and atmospheric feel.
Criticized for a meandering plot and underdeveloped characters.
Seen as a visually rich but narratively lacking entry from a master director.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for 'Hosanna' is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film was one of Michelangelo Antonioni's final directorial efforts and was released relatively late in his career, after a period of less frequent filmmaking.
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