STIGMATA
Starring Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne, Jonathan Pryce

The plot : When a smoking, drinking, shagging, Pittsburgh hairdresser, named Frankie (Arquette) comes into possession of a rosary that once belonged to a revered priest in Brazil, she begins to display the stigmata. The Vatican sends Fr. Andrew Kiernan (Byrne) to investigate, and he discovers that she's not a deep thinker and she's a self-described nonbeliever. Upon this discovery, he waves her off as being a stigmatist, but after witnessing a couple of incidents, including her recieving two of the wounds and speaking and writing in Aramaic, he begins to wonder if this is the real thing. Along the way, she asks a few theological questions, which he answers, as though the movie were spiritually advised (this, of course, is for the benefit of the lay audience). Back at the Vatican, Cardinal Houseman (Pryce) is trying to divert Andrew from his investigation. And as is Pryce's usual role, the Cardinal is up to no good.

The good : I loved the visuals. This whole movie is filled with them, both in technical and aesthetic terms. The credits sequence is a real visual treat. One of the best designed credit rolls I've seen, using religious imagery, foreshadowing events to come as well as past events, overlapping a visual introduction to Frankie's lifestyle. Simlar to "The Mummy," it uses the Aramaic script which transforms into the Roman alphabet for the credits. The only negative I have as well as the first questionable item is the background music for this sequence. It starts off with the Hail Mary and moves into a rock song which the singer sings about the bad things she does (the exact opposite of what the church teaches). It is appropriate for the visuals, and does help give the background to Frankie's life (and this is the only time the audience is given this information), but the usage of prayers said in the background of the song is what disturbed me. The scenes where Frankie recieves the stigmata, as well as the other "supernatural" scenes are both awesome and frightening. Technically it's stunning...the use of quick cuts and overlaid images of Arquette in agony, the nails being driven into the wrists/feet, the Aramaic text overlapping the images, and other imagery. At the same time, it's scary, being able to see the nails driven into the wrists/feet, and during the scourging...being able to see the lacerations appear. The sound during the scourging is impactful as well. Another great thing was the use of visual motifs. The doves, dripping water, and candles were used very effectively throughout. Aside from the visuals, there's also a good deal of information given, including the explanation of the stigmata with references to both Padre Pio and St. Francis of Assisi. They also explain the technicallity of the nails in the wrists rather than the hands. Even the explanation of why Kiernan became a priest and how he could make the vow of celibacy (one of the better ones I've heard).

The bad : The conspiracy plot and the (as usual) tainted image of priests. The story revolves around an ancient text, supposedly a Gospel written in first person by Jesus himself which gives instructions for his disciples after he is dead. This "gospel" would suposedly destroy the church because it speaks against a church made of priests and bishops, as well as brick and stone. Now for those who know better, the "messenger" (the spirit that possesses Frankie) was excommunicated and therefore isn't working under the guidance of the church. And at the end of the movie, it is explained that the text was the "Gospel of St. Thomas" which was not accepted by the Catholic church and therefore a false text. Now the Cardinal starts off with good intentions. But in the last 20 minutes, he becomes the "power hungry, bad priest." He tries to kill Frankie to silence her and claims himself as the head of the church. On the other hand, Fr. Andrew is a priest with doubts about his faith, and is more of a scientist than a priest. He also begins to fall for Frankie (it's not said, but you can see it from the acting). At one point, Frankie tries to seduce him. He stops her only to discover she's possessed (which was one of the more frightening and visually stunning scenes). But at the end, it's unclear as to whether or not he's overcome the temptation. Plus there's another priest who knew of the text and believes in it, adding to Fr. Andrew's doubts. In the end, it's as though you're made to think that priests are to be viewed with distrust and disdain.

The ugly : The politics of the church displayed. Arquette possessed. The amount of blood shown. The nails going through the hands and feet and the scourging.

Analysis on the visuals of the film :

In the intro scene, when the first credits appear, words such as "prayer" and "faith" are flashed between the transformations of the Aramaic characters to Roman alphabet characters. This is the initial sign of subtle imagery that gives further meaning to what is being seen.

The opening of the movie has fair weather. This is only one of three times it is not raining. As Fr. Andrew Kiernan enters the church, the three most significant symbols in the movie are introduced. We are shown the candles, the doves, and the dripping (which at this point is blood). All three signify the presence of Fr. Almeida's spirit's presence. The candles are blown out, then relit each time this happens. The doves appear and fly off as well. Whenever this happens, something falls, usually feathers. This is a symbol of Lucifer's fall (an angel losing his wings). The doves themselves are a symbol and reference to the Holy Spirit and St. Francis of Assisi. The Holy Spirit is always pictured as a pure white dove. St. Francis is often pictured with a dove on his shoulder and carrying another in his hands. He was the first to receive the stigmata. The dripping is a steady presence, either in the form of blood or water (which includes the rain).

During the opening credits, religious images are interwoven with that of Frankie Paige's lifestyle. Some of the images foreshadow the events to come, such as the pictures of St. Francis and Padre Pio, the crucifixion images, and the imagery of purgatory and hell. However, three images flashed during this sequence are of a shadowy winged figure on a white background. This is the first sign that the spirit is not of God.

As Frankie wakes up, there is the dripping of water. The first dripping was of blood, the tears of the statue. Here it starts as water, but we'll later see it as water and blood. This being a reference to the passage in the Bible where a lance in thrusted in Jesus' side "...and blood and water poured out." The last drop goes up, rather than down, to signify a supernatural presense. It could also signify the fact that Almeida (who is the spirit), was excommunicated for the church and went off on his own.

The significance of Frankie's questioning of being pregnant is a reference to the Immaculate Conception which will be seen again later. When Frankie is in the tub before she recieves the first stigmata, there are dozens of candles around. When the dove appears, take note that it is not a pure white dove. That is to say the spirit is a tainted one and once again, not of God. As it flies off, a single feather falls. When she picks up the feather, notice the wounds are already on her wrists.

Like the opening credits, the sequence where she recieves the stigmata is interwoven between her, images of Christ crucified, and actual nails being driven into her wrists.

When she comes back home from the hospital and views the bathroom, we see the candles knocked over and the blood mixed with water dripping over the side of the tub.

The next day, the hallucination she sees is herself holding a baby. The woman who looks like her is dressed in a light blue coat with a hood. And as she looks at Frankie, she cries. This is a reference to the Virgin Mary who is often pictured in blue. The baby is wrapped in a red cloth. A reference to Jesus, who is often seen wearing red. The woman holds up the baby and then drops in the middle of the road to be killed. This, of course, is a reference to the death of Jesus. She cries because she knows her son must die. When Frankie picks up the red cloth, it is empty. A slight reference to the Ressurrection, where they find the wrappings in the tomb.

On the subway, notice the cross she tears away from the nun is not a crucifix, but a plain cross. This is the only time we will see this. Everytime a cross is pictured, it's a crucifix. Notice the flashing lights as they ride. Because no candles are present, this is the subsitute. They flash on and off, much like when the candles are blown out then relit. When she receives the second Stigmata, we once again see the interwoven imagery.

The next day, in the coffee shop, we once again see the image of the dripping, this time in the coffee. At the night club, they have a couple people on stage dressed as devils. And Frankie makes a statement saying, "If it isn't God doing this to me, then who is?" This is the third time we are told that the spirit isn't of God. Back at her apartment, as she's reading about epilepsy and the stigmata, many of the images seen in the credits sequence are shown again here.

In the alley, when Kiernan approaches, several doves fly off. Newspapers fall from the sky, much like the feathers at the opening of the movie. At the church, the dripping of water and blood is once again seen.

When Frankie is on the roof of her apartment, it is a reference to the temptation of Christ, where Satan tells him to jump from the top of the temple.

There is a drawing of the Holy Spirit, a dove, among the writings Frankie puts on her wall. When she changes back to herself, it is as water drips on her face. This is a foreshadowing of the exorcism that will occur, as Holy Water is used to drive out a spirit.

The doves are again seen as Frankie feeds them while Kiernan investigates the writings on the wall. At the flower shop, this is only the second time it's not raining. Notice the diffused light around Frankie. It is significant of the innocence still within her.

After the fourth stigmata, back at her apartment, the dripping of water and blood are seen once again. Once again, the candles are seen when Kiernan picks up the film.

The image of Almeida they see in the mirror is the final statement that the spirit possessing Frankie is not of God, but it is Almeida himself.

When Kiernan goes to Frankie's aparment the next day, we see candles again in the bathroom as Frankie comes out of it. During the sequence where she's possessed, the spirit puts her in a position similar to that of the crucified Christ and has her cry tears of blood. This is a mockery of Christ and the miracles where statues cry tears of blood. This finalizes the fact that Almeida is against the church (as he even states it when threatening Kiernan in this sequence).

During the final scene, where the room is on fire, the candles which were lit before the exorcism attempt are knocked over. The whole set is remarkably similar to the one in the Exorcist where Linda Blair is in the bed.

In the garden outside, the statue of St. Francis shows him holding the doves. And this is the only only time we see a pure white dove, as it flies to Frankie. This is also the third time where it is not raining.

-JoE-
©1999 JMR