50
Testament is full of bad jokes (like a man repeatedly throwing himself from great heights to prove he won't die) and, in spite of Groyne's grave, determined presence as Ea, is borderline offensive.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
60
Striking a balance between the dark and combative religious humour and its more saccharine elements proves difficult.
80
Time Out London by Cath Clarke
This is a film with a big heart and an even bigger imagination.
80
Screen International by Charles Gant
With the consistently playful, often delightful and frequently funny God fantasy The Brand New Testament, the Belgian auteur delivers his most substantially enjoyable film since 1991’s Toto The Hero.
90
The Hollywood Reporter by Deborah Young
It is irresistibly laugh-out-loud and feel-good.
38
Slant Magazine by Diego Semerene
At first, the film’s dark humor is amusing, only for it to wear off once an actual plot kicks into motion.
83
Lovely to look at, charmingly played throughout, and with a sense of fun that is more playful than subversive, The Brand New Testament is a bouncy treat: not so much heresy as whimsy, with a smooth matte finish and a mischievous grin.
80
The Guardian by Jordan Hoffman
The Brand New Testament is a peppy, original and (importantly) very sweet story.
70
While the ultra-clever first act stockpiles sufficient admiration from audiences to sustain the film, the bulk of The Brand New Testament concerns itself with Van Dormael’s most persistent preoccupation: the tug-of-war between fate and free will.
Weird, irreverent, and absurdly funny, this movie is one of my favorite indie films. I love how it subverts the concept of religion in a way that's both fantastical and incredibly grounding. The intersecting stories of each of its side characters feels inexplicably human and real, despite the film's outlandish premise. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cringe... and you just might walk away feeling a little lighter.