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The Holy Girl

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78% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Amalia (María Alche) is an adolescent girl who is caught in the throes of her emerging sexuality and her deeply held passion for her Catholic faith. These two drives mingle when the visiting Dr. Jano (Carlos Belloso) takes advantage of a crowd to get inappropriately close to the girl. Repulsed by him but inspired by an inner burning, Amalia decides it is her God-given mission to save the doctor from his behavior, and she begins to stalk Dr. Jano, becoming a most unusual voyeur.
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The Holy Girl

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Critics Consensus

This provocative, lyrical drama mixes themes of forbidden sexuality and redemptive faith with a touch of humanism in a memorable, if disorienting, visual style.

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Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Kerry Lengel Arizona Republic Director Lucrecia Martel's storytelling is spare to the point of being stingy. Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 7, 2005 Full Review John Hartl Seattle Times Martel's style is tentative, elusive, so much so that even the most conventional episodes benefit from her fresh perspective. Rated: 3/4 Jun 24, 2005 Full Review Dustin Chang Floating World The sordid details of the lives of middle class bourgeoisie can be seen as melodrama. But as in all Martel's films there is always a it's-barely-there-but-there satire. I can't really think of any director working today who works on Martel's level. Jan 22, 2025 Full Review Diego Batlle Otroscines.com In one of her best works on the big screen, Mercedes Morán's beautiful maturity and sensuality support this very solid cast... [Full review in Spanish] Aug 28, 2023 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) There's an intimacy and intensity between them that is both platonic and slyly sexual... Feb 2, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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dave s The Holy Girl is an odd but intriguing Argentinian film directed by Lucrecia Martel. Amalia is a young girl and devout Christian, waiting patiently for God to provide her with guidance on how to live her life. She lives with her mother in a hotel where a medical convention is being held and ultimately becomes engaged in a nebulous relationship with a visiting doctor. Martel allows the majority of the scenes to play out in front of an Ozu-like stationary camera – no pans, no zooms, no tracking or crane shots – which may be off-putting to some viewers. Despite an ending that some may find vague or confusing, it is an interesting character study of a girl coming to terms with her faith and her sexuality, as well as a doctor coming to terms with his actions. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie was useless... Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Devout religious girl finds holy purpose in the interest of a lecherous doctor who enjoys rubbing himself against her clothed bum in public and running away when she turns. Some may find it boring because it generally projects the subtleties of human relationships rather than having them unrealistically conform to a melodramatic arc. Not to say this piece isn't melodramatic, as at times it drips. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty mundane take on the catholic-schoolgirl-discovers-sexuality genre. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member An intelligent film. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member absolutely amazing movie by one of the most talented directors.. evar. Too intelligent, sensitive, and thought provoking for the rotten tomatoes crowd, so if you like hollywood drivel, you will hate it. Otherwise, your head will bleed from the awesomeness. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Holy Girl

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Movie Info

Synopsis Amalia (María Alche) is an adolescent girl who is caught in the throes of her emerging sexuality and her deeply held passion for her Catholic faith. These two drives mingle when the visiting Dr. Jano (Carlos Belloso) takes advantage of a crowd to get inappropriately close to the girl. Repulsed by him but inspired by an inner burning, Amalia decides it is her God-given mission to save the doctor from his behavior, and she begins to stalk Dr. Jano, becoming a most unusual voyeur.
Director
Lucrecia Martel
Producer
Lita Stantic
Screenwriter
Juan Pablo Domenech, Lucrecia Martel
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Production Co
El Deseo S.A., La Pasionaria S.r.l.
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content|Brief Nudity)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 29, 2005, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Sep 6, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA)
$303.9K
Runtime
1h 46m