Damien Manivel's 'Magdala' Premieres in Theaters

Damien Manivel's film 'Magdala' was released in theaters on July 20, 2022, after being selected for the ACID program at Cannes 2022. The film is a cinematic portrait of Mary Magdalene, depicted as a woman who has withdrawn from the world after the death of Jesus. Shot on 16mm film, it features long, almost static shots that evoke the style of Yasujirō Ozu. The protagonist is played by Elsa Wolliaston, a dancer and choreographer born in 1945, who spent her childhood in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and studied under Merce Cunningham. The film eschews a traditional script; Manivel instead provides Wolliaston with simple poems and drawings. The sound design incorporates natural elements and vinyl-like crackling, inspired by Jean-Michel Jarre's thoughts on auditory aesthetics. The film's climax references Georges de la Tour's chiaroscuro paintings, particularly 'The Penitent Magdalene' and 'Magdalene with Two Flames' (1638-1643), using only candlelight. Manivel, a former dancer, works with a small crew and minimal budget, creating an ascetic visual style reminiscent of Robert Bresson. The film concludes with Mary Magdalene being carried to heaven by angels.