Gospel According to Harry (1994)

Gospel According to Harry Poster

The film is a biblical soap-opera whose action unfolds in the Californian desert. Karen and Wes's marriage is crumbling apart - like a sandcastle. Karen can't even make love to her husband any more - the sand has managed to get everywhere. Harry, a tax collector, is a witness to this marriage falling apart. As a civil servant he hears Wes confession. However he isn't able to help him. The omnipotent eye of television glitters above the desert - that raw allegory of America where neither the white nor the black have it good. If Samuel Beckett and Joan Collins had a romance, then their child would look like this film.

General Overview
"Gospel According to Harry" is a 1994 film, directed by Lech Majewski, a well-known Polish director. The movie, also called "Ewangelia według Harry'ego", provides an unique blend of surrealism, mental drama, and biblical allegories. Initially produced in the United States, the movie was later on dubbed in Polish.

Plot Summary
"Gospel According to Harry" focuses on the emotionally complex relationship between the 2 protagonist. Wes, played by Viggo Mortensen, is a building and construction employee longing for a better life. He deals with Katie, played by Jennifer Rubin, on the coast of California in a house prepared to fall down since of beach disintegration. Wes dreams of escaping from his present life and continuously visions of flying away. His visions are presented as surreal sequences that provide the movie a special and rather strange sense of aesthetic appeals.

Their having a hard time relationship is closely observed by Harry, depicted by a character who is a digger driver dealing with stopping the disintegration. Harry is like a prophet, frequently making scriptural referrals intertwined with some humorous elements. The title alludes to his role in the story, painting his perspective on nature, humanity, and the relationship in between Wes and Katie.

Symbolism and Allegory
The movie uses strong symbolic language using universal scriptural allegories. The narrative portrays Wes and Katie as living almost in isolation, surrounded by the falling sands, which echo the biblical story's falling manna. Their crumbling home stands as a metaphor for their falling relationship, while Wes's constipation signifies his inability to let go or express his feelings.

Harry's character serves as the film's prophet, trying to stop the wearing down beach, which ideally is an impossible job. His reflections and parables offer profound insights frequently informed humorously, guiding the movie's narrative structure and imbuing it with a philosophical undertone.

Performances and Cinematic Style
Majewski's cinematic design in "Gospel According to Harry" is memorable. The blend of humor, surreal elements, and existential commentary offers the film a distinctive environment. Impressive performances by Viggo Mortensen and Jennifer Rubin include more depth to this allegorical narrative, and their interactions link flawlessly with the ambient visual surrealism.

Important Reception
"Gospel According to Harry" got blended responses from critics. Some customers praised it as a thought-provoking, surrealistic drama with interesting characters and an unique narrative texture. Nevertheless, others found its approach to surrealism heavy-handed, with too many symbolic referrals and its plot challenging to understand.

Overall, the motion picture stands as an interesting artifact of 1990s independent movie theater. It records Majewski's visualization of an invasive relationship filled with problems significantly anchored in a surreal atmosphere. Regardless of the mixed evaluations, "Gospel According to Harry" protected its location in movie theater for its strong narrative and abundant amalgamation of biblical recommendations and humor.

Top Cast

  • Viggo Mortensen (small)
    Viggo Mortensen
    Wes
  • Jennifer Rubin (small)
    Jennifer Rubin
    Karen
  • Andy Rivera
    Mick
  • Alhassane Barry
    Secret Service
  • David Baty
    Secret Service