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Saint Maud movie review: Rose Glass’ directorial debut is a riveting thriller on religion, faith and humanity
Saint Maud is a testament to Glass’ sheer love for filmmaking. For a debut feature, the filmmaker does wonders at portraying the central character’s descent into madness.
3.5/5
Dec 29, 2021
Saint Maud
Story: Maud, a recent Roman Catholic convert takes on caregiving responsibilities of a former noted dancer Amanda. Amanda’s carefree lifestyle and intimate relationship with Carol triggers Maud’s insecurities and she launches a self-proclaimed altruistic mission to ‘save’ Amanda.
Review: Writer-cum-director Rose Glass debuts with a compelling thriller that delves into the themes of religion, faith and humanity. One would think they all go hand-in-hand, but Glass’ incisive script delves into deeper layers of nuance. The story begins with Maud (Morfydd Clark), a house nurse who lives in the quiet town of Scarborough. Docile and meek, her presence is almost fleeting onscreen, immediately giving the audience an idea about her constant hesitation. Recently converted to Roman Catholicism, Maud’s connection with the Almighty is more conversational than reverential. She directly addresses the higher power, often questioning, arguing and even berating Him.
Maud’s demeanour, at the get-go, is of a woman destined for bigger things but is unaware of it till this point. “I can’t shake the feeling that you must have saved me for something greater than this,” Maud says one day, clearly stating that she feels something more significant is about to come her way. Through her internal interactions with God, Maud’s psyche is highlighted. Glass uses streaks of subtle fanaticism to depict Maud’s state of mind. “Forgive me my impatience, but I hope you’ll reveal your plan for me soon,” she says.
Despite initial hints of an uncomfortable secret lurking within the shadows with regards to Maud’s life, the true action begins only after she takes up the job as a caregiver to Amanda Kohl (a brilliant Jennifer Ehle). Glass positions the story solely through Maud’s point of view. She is the primary entry into the narrative from an audience’s point of view. This makes the few external characters’ inputs very crucial since they are the only moments of objectivity that people get through the film. Even though this may be slightly heavy, Glass’ tactful move to place Maud at the centre of all action seems purposeful, to make the narrative even more disturbing.
Maud’s equation with Amanda gradually takes an obsessive turn. A former noted dancer-cum-choreographer, Amanda now lives a life ensconced in memories of her past glory. Her otherwise mundane life is further hit by the fact that she is diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma. In a final attempt to imbue some positivity into her life, Amanda stirs a romantic equation with Carol, a charming young woman she meets online. Maud, who also experiences a growing sense of obsession for Amanda, decides to intervene and ‘save’ her employer from this chosen life. However, Maud’s way of redeeming souls is far from palatable for a pragmatic Amanda whose treatment of Maud’s ways almost borders on mockery.
The power dynamic between Maud and Carol undergoes different levels. Clark successfully embodies Maud’s unpredictable self. She ensures that viewers are always on the tenterhooks about her next plan of action, a constant motif that keeps the nail-biting mystery alive through the runtime of the film. Maud’s no holds barred fanaticism swiftly reaches unnatural levels and soon she crosses over to the dark side. Her equation with the higher being thus becomes an unnerving concoction of rigorous self-harm and acute denial.
Clark’s performance is not only convincing, it is also surreal. The actress seamlessly slips into Maud’s delusional headspace and aces the nurse’s constant sense of calm (and simultaneously disturbing), even in the face of abject trauma, both physical and psychological.
Verdict: Saint Maud is a testament to Glass’ sheer love for filmmaking. For a debut feature, the filmmaker does wonders at portraying the central character’s descent into madness. Glass’ treatment of the narrative is both confident and alluring. Even though Glass’ plot is excruciatingly disconcerting, it’s almost like one can’t have enough of it.
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