Stigmata
dir. Rupert Wainwright · 1999
A priest from the Vatican arrives in São Paulo to investigate miraculous occurrences, only to find himself entangled in the life of a young woman in the U.S. who is exhibiting stigmata. As he grapples with her afflictions and the implications of her experiences, the film immerses viewers in a world where faith is tested against the backdrop of urban decay and existential dread.
A priest from the Vatican is sent to Sao Paulo, Brazil to investigate the appearance of the face of the Virgin Mary on the side of a building. While there he hears of a statue of the Virgin Mary bleeding tears in a small town outside of the city. Meanwhile, a young woman in the U.S. begins to show signs of stigmata, the wounds of Christ. The priest from the Vatican links up with her and cares for her as she is increasingly afflicted by the stigmata. Her ranting and raving finally begins to make sense to the priest who starts to question what his religion has stood for for the last 1900 years.
Talking points
- the nature of faith and doubt
- the impact of urban environments on spirituality
- the psychological effects of trauma
- the role of the supernatural in modern life
