The Secret Scripture

7^th October 2016 6.15pm at Cineworld Haymarket
8^th October 2016 12.30pm at Curzon Soho
12^th October 2016 12.30pm at Vue West End

“Do you not understand the power you have over men?” Can such emotion be a catalyst for the destruction of a life? Directed by Jin Sheridan, The Secret Scripture is a remarkable, emotionally compelling story about longing and unrequited love creating compulsions of destruction and malevolence. “I did not kill my child” is repeated by the older Roseanne McNulty, brilliantly acted by the legendary, venerated Vanessa Redgrave. Accused of brutally murdering her newborn baby as a young woman (Rooney Mara), she has been confined to a psychiatric hospital her entire life.

An eminent psychiatrist, Dr William Grene (Eric Bana) has been asked to examine her, as the home is evacuating the patients for renovations, but she refuses to leave. Moved by her story, he is eventually convinced to take her case. Transported to 1940s southern Ireland, we encounter a beautiful free spirited young woman who falls for Northern Irish fighter pilot, Michael McNulty (Jack Reynor). Her innocent attractiveness to men, however, causes trouble for her; even the parish priest, Father Gaunt (Theo James) – a troubled character who becomes the instigator of great  tragedy – is obsessed with her, stalking and fighting over her. Frustrated after catching her with the pilot, he accuses her of nymphomania and has her committed to a psychiatric facility.

Performances are brilliant all around, but the exceptional Redgrave deserves a Best Actress award for this role. Mara is excellent as the feminine, ethereal young Roseanne, reminding of Gone with the Wind’s Vivian Leigh.

Using haunting cinematography, this work is highly romantic and poignantly heartbreaking. With an extraordinary script and superb direction, The Secret Scripture is worthy of recognition. The spirit of this beautiful piece might be summed up by Roseanne’s phrase, “Anything you see with love is the truth, the rest is smoke.”

Catherine Sedgwick

The Secret Scripture does not have a UK release date yet.

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