Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
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...
The Brand New Testament is a wonderfully inventive Belgian fantasy-comedy with a genuinely singular premise — God as a petty, abusive bureaucrat living in a Brussels apartment, rebelled against by his daughter Ea. The plot is richly imaginative, weaving together the quirky stories of Ea's new apostles with dark comedy and genuine pathos. Novelty is very high: the film has a completely unmistakable voice, blending surrealism, religious satire, and fairy-tale whimsy in a way that feels entirely its own. The ending, while charming, is a touch too whimsical and tidy to fully satisfy the subversive energy built up earlier. Acting is solid but uneven across the ensemble. Cinematography is competent and occasionally beautiful but not especially distinguished.