CNS Movie Review: Requiem

Requiem

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- As a movie dealing with the subject matter of demonic possession, the German-language "Requiem" (IFC) is the anti-"Exorcist." Loosely based on the same 1976 German case that inspired "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," director Hans-Christian Schmid's somber and deliberately paced consideration of faith and psychology avoids sensationalism and horror cliches for more sober realism. No spinning-head special effects here. In fact, the film plays almost like a documentary.

Set in 1970s Germany, the fictionalized drama centers on Michaela Klinger (an extremely credible Sandra Huller), a sheltered and devoutly Catholic young woman heading off to college at Tubingen, the same university where, several years earlier, the future Pope Benedict XVI once taught theology.

Diagnosed in childhood with epilepsy, Michaela begins to experience increasingly severe episodes during which she is tormented by hellish visions and voices. She comes to believe that she is possessed, prompting conflicting theories from those closest to her. Her supportive father, Karl (Burghart Klaussner), hopes her medication will keep the condition in check, while her austere mother, Marianne (Imogen Kogge), is against her daughter going away to school, an attitude that hardens when Michaela returns home sporting what her mother deems to be an immodest new look, though her shorter hair and less conservative outfit are hardly what most would call radical.

As the seizures worsen and she becomes more convinced of their demonic root, Michaela confides in an elderly priest, Father Landauer (Walter Schmidinger). He reacts with an incredulity that borders on callous, at one point suggesting that God and the devil are merely "symbols." (His jarring comment, however, could be an awkward translation of a statement referring only to superstitious encrustations of faith.) Nevertheless, he enlists the help of a younger priest, Father Borchert (Jens Harzer), who is much more sympathetic.

Father Landauer comes across as unfeeling, which is in contrast to his earlier warmth during a pilgrimage scene, and Father Borchert is so single-minded in his treating of the matter as a spiritual struggle that he doesn't even consider possible medical causes. However, all -- even Michaela's mother, whose harshness hides maternal protectiveness -- are shown to have the best intentions.

Meanwhile, secular-minded Stefan (Nicholas Reinke), a chemistry student with whom Michaela becomes involved, and fellow dorm resident Hanna (Anna Blomeier) press her to seek psychological help.

A "requiem" is a Mass for the souls of the dead, and indeed in the real-life tragedy, the girl -- Anneliese Michel -- died of malnutrition and exhaustion after several exorcism sessions, resulting in charges against the two priests involved. (German bishops subsequently established that it was not a case of demonic possession.)

As in "Emily Rose," the larger concern here is the mystery of human suffering. Like Emily, Michaela ultimately chooses to understand and accept her suffering as a part of God's inscrutable will, seeing her own tribulations akin to those of an Italian saint to whom she has a special devotion.

Though Schmid is on record as not believing in demonic possession, the film, through the character of Father Borchert, makes the argument that science has its limitations. In one scene, a professor laments the irreligiosity of his students when they snicker at Michaela after she candidly professes her belief in God.

While Schmid maintains respectful impartiality in presenting the various points of view -- taking the family's beliefs seriously and ultimately remaining inconclusive in resolving the central question -- the film would seem to suggest a scientific, rather than a supernatural, explanation.

Subtitles.

The film contains some disturbing scenes of mental affliction or possible demonic possession, an implied sexual encounter and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

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DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.

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Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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