The Brand New Testament
The Brand New Testament

Movie spotlight

The Brand New Testament

2015
Movie
114 min
French

God lives in Brussels. On Earth though, God is a coward, morally pathetic and odious to his family. His daughter, Ea, is bored at home and can't stand being locked up in a small apartment in ordinary Brussels, until the day she decides to revolt against her dad...

Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes79%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users76%
Director: Jaco Van DormaelGenres: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

In this audacious comedy, God exists and lives in Brussels with his perpetually grumpy wife and their daughter, Ea. Ea, tired of her father's cruel reign and his tormenting of humanity through his computer, hacks into God's system and leaks the entire Book of Life to the internet. She then escapes to Earth to recruit six new apostles and write her own testament, aiming to give humanity a new perspective on life and love.

Critical Reception

The Brand New Testament was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its originality, dark humor, and imaginative premise. While some found its irreverent take on religion to be provocative, many appreciated its unique blend of satire and heartfelt storytelling, ultimately celebrating its inventive approach to familiar theological concepts.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its wildly original and audacious concept.

  • Lauded for its dark humor and satirical wit.

  • Recognized for its imaginative storytelling and unique perspective on divinity.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciate the film's creativity and dark humor, finding its premise to be refreshingly unique and thought-provoking. Many enjoyed the fresh take on religious themes and the film's ability to blend comedy with philosophical ideas, although some found its controversial subject matter to be challenging.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the César Awards and won the Magritte Award for Best Screenplay.

Fun Fact

Director Jaco Van Dormael originally conceived of the film's premise over 20 years before its release, but struggled to find a way to bring the complex narrative to the screen.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Next time you are asked to name some famous Belgians, you can add God to the list. He (Benoît Poelvoorde) is a bit of a slob though and lives with his long-suffering wife (Yolanda Moreau) and daughter "Ea" (Pili Groyne). Their son "JC" has ...

Reno

Reno

> Re-editing the god's creation. I was looking forward for this since it was from one of my favourite directors who is a very unique storyteller. This is a fantasy and a black comedy from Belgium that was chosen to represent the country ...