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User Reviews for: Apostasy

CinemaSerf
/10  3 weeks ago
Siobhan Finneran really does turn in an effective performance as the mother "Ivanna" in his skin-crawlingly toxic drama that depicts a close family of Jehovah's Witnesses. She has two daughters who enthusiastically spend time trying to spread the word of God (in Urdu, frequently) amongst their community going from door-to-door. Quickly, we learn that "Alex" (Molly Wright) is not doing so well, and that there are issues about a life-saving blood transfusion that conflict profoundly with the family's faith. Her sister "Luisa" (Sacha Parkinson) adds to the complications when she announces that she's expecting a child with her boyfriend - and he's not in the congregation nor are they married. The expected tragedy duly ensues and this seriously tests the faith of "Luisa" who ends up ostracised by her peers to the extent that even her mother is largely forbidden from contact. As this separation continues, both women have to deal with their priorities and that's where the story becomes really quite visceral. This isn't the place to discuss the relative merits of the religiosity, but what we see here is an example of just how disagreeable zealousness can be when it's codification results in unhappiness for just about everyone. The promises made by so many religions that what's good in life is a "gift" and what's not is a "test" is potently conveyed here by auteur Daniel Kokotajlo and leaves us with a distinctly unpleasant taste in the mouth. The two women at the centre of the story manage to create an environment that really does get under your skin and they are ably aided, quite subtly, by the really quite odious characterisations of "Steven" (Robert Emms) and "Brian" (James Quinn) whose constant "we understand, but..." approach to the troubles faced in grief and despair make you want to throw something at the screen. As a drama, the production is simple as it allows the theology to do the work - and though it's not an easy watch, it does provoke quite a bit of thought and question the concepts of blind faith.
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