For viewers who aren’t familiar, the Stations of the Cross is a series of prayers that contemplates Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s also the title and the basis of this German coming-of-age drama. It can seem controversial to create such a work, given how extreme Maria gets in proving her devotion. But given the raw, naturalistic approach of its fourteen static long shots, Stations of the Cross observes something quite unsettling. While the movie does poke fun at Christian fundamentalism, the film seriously contemplates the way this extreme religious devotion feels out of place in today’s society, as modern day beliefs and conveniences have eased suffering and lessened the need for martyrdom. Stations of the Cross is a daring, thought-provoking work feature that cleverly points out the growing pains of religion today.
Synopsis
Maria finds herself caught between two worlds. At school this 14-year-old girl has all the typical teenage interests, but when she’s at home with her family she follows the teachings of the Society of St. Paul and their traditionalist interpretation of Catholicism. Everything that Maria thinks and does must be examined before God. And since the Lord is a strict shepherd, she lives in constant fear of committing some misconduct...
Storyline
In hopes of securing her entry into heaven and becoming a saint, Maria, a fundamentalist Catholic teenager, goes through all 14 stations of the cross in real life.
TLDR
This was quite funny for someone who, as a kid, wanted to become a saint.
What stands out
We can talk about the unusual 14-part structure, or the way there are only 14 long shots in this film, or the static camera, but what stands out to me is Lea van Acken. This film wouldn’t have worked without her performance.
