A story of extreme religious conviction, Stations of the Cross left me in a profound state of sorrow for a character who never realised the insanity of their actions.
Maria is raised in a devout Catholic family, with a domineering mother instilling guilt over any slight indication of sin (of which there are no bounds) and her local priest continuing to give Maria a sense of moral failure, that she must thrive for God's love no matter how horrific the consequences.
The narrative's dogmatic nature is intensified by Anna Bruggemann's script, whose use of characterisation creates thoroughly vivid individuals whose actions serve to enforce (depending on your ideals) our own sense of morality. The static cinematography is another effective tool in reflecting the characters' dogma. It lets audiences become further embedded into Maria's tormented existence, feeling dismayed with each dire choice she makes.
As the final scene played out I couldn't help but think Maria's life was wasted, missing out on a life's worth of wonder in exchange for a belief that enforced repression. Station of the Cross is an powerful study of religion's morbid nature.
Maria is raised in a devout Catholic family, with a domineering mother instilling guilt over any slight indication of sin (of which there are no bounds) and her local priest continuing to give Maria a sense of moral failure, that she must thrive for God's love no matter how horrific the consequences.
The narrative's dogmatic nature is intensified by Anna Bruggemann's script, whose use of characterisation creates thoroughly vivid individuals whose actions serve to enforce (depending on your ideals) our own sense of morality. The static cinematography is another effective tool in reflecting the characters' dogma. It lets audiences become further embedded into Maria's tormented existence, feeling dismayed with each dire choice she makes.
As the final scene played out I couldn't help but think Maria's life was wasted, missing out on a life's worth of wonder in exchange for a belief that enforced repression. Station of the Cross is an powerful study of religion's morbid nature.