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Holy Smoke (1999)

Holy Smoke (1999)
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It's said that sex and religion are two subjects that no one can discuss without arguing; writer/director Jane Campion tackles both head-on in this satiric comedy drama. On a trip to India, Australian Ruth (Kate Winslet) has a spiritual awakening and embraces the teachings of a guru named Baba. Back home in Sydney, Ruth's mother and father (Julie Hamilton and Tim Robertson) are appalled to learn that their daughter now answers to the name Nazni and has no intention of returning. Mother visits her daughter in India in hopes of convincing her to come home, but it's not until she suffers a life-threatening asthma attack that Ruth agrees to return for a visit. Mother pretends to arrange a meeting with Ruth's father, who has been ill, and this trick lands Ruth in the clutches of P.J. Waters (Harvey Keitel), an American exit counselor who deprograms members of religious cults. Waters begins to loosen Ruth's belief in Baba's teachings, but P.J. finds himself sexually attracted to Ruth, and in time she allows him to seduce her. Ruth soon turns the tables on P.J., as she discovers that sex allows her to make mincemeat of his long-held beliefs as a macho, misogynist male. Jane's sister Anna Campion, herself a director, co-authored the screenplay; Pam Grier appears in a supporting role as P.J.'s partner and girlfriend. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel, (more)
Director(s):
Jane Campion
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Holy Smoke

It's said that sex and religion are two subjects that no one can discuss without arguing; writer/director Jane Campion tackles both head-on in this satiric comedy drama. On a trip to India, Australian Ruth (Kate Winslet) has a spiritual awakening and embraces the teachings of a guru named Baba. Back home in Sydney, Ruth's mother and father (Julie Hamilton and Tim Robertson) are appalled to learn that their daughter now answers to the name Nazni and has no intention of returning. Mother visits her daughter in India in hopes of convincing her to come home, but it's not until she suffers a life-threatening asthma attack that Ruth agrees to return for a visit. Mother pretends to arrange a meeting with Ruth's father, who has been ill, and this trick lands Ruth in the clutches of P.J. Waters (Harvey Keitel), an American exit counselor who deprograms members of religious cults. Waters begins to loosen Ruth's belief in Baba's teachings, but P.J. finds himself sexually attracted to Ruth, and in time she allows him to seduce her. Ruth soon turns the tables on P.J., as she discovers that sex allows her to make mincemeat of his long-held beliefs as a macho, misogynist male. Jane's sister Anna Campion, herself a director, co-authored the screenplay; Pam Grier appears in a supporting role as P.J.'s partner and girlfriend. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
114 mins

Complete Cast of Holy Smoke


Director(s):
Jane Campion
Writer(s):
Jane Campion, Anna Campion
Producer(s):
Jan Chapman
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Strong Sexual Content, Nudity, Adult Language)
Categories:
Independent Films
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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    Stacey M.

    Pretty wierd. Underlying plot not so bad but terrible attempt at humor added to a more serious plot makes if fall very short of hopes. Only watch if nothing better to do or if you like the wierd stuff.

    Yes   |   No

     
    M. Joseph K.

    This movie was a complete waste of my time. The story was disturbing in it's absurdity. Character development was so lacking that I had no reason to like the characters or be moved by them. Don't bother...

    Yes   |   No

     
    JC J.

    I started out giving this 1 1/2 stars but I thought better of it. The premise is OK but then . . . really not. Keitel plays a fixer - not unlike so many of his mafia/gangster roles, pretty much just like in Pulp Fiction - but this time he's "fixing" a young woman who has undergone a religious conversion to Hinduism. The family entraps the girl and brings her home to Australia, though it might as well be hyper-Christian (and hypocritical) Texas. But what's really disturbing is that Keitel uses his position of power to bed the girl while he has her entrapped in a remote desert shack with no phone, no shoes and no way out. He gets even more depraved when she fights back by ridiculing his masculinity. He breaks down, admits he's a dirty old man . . . and then guilts her into doing it AGAIN - while he wears a dress and lipstick as part of his shame. YES, I know, I just ruined the movie for everyone - save your time and money and look elsewhere for entertainment. This is rubbish.

    Yes   |   No

     
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