The New Testament: A lesson in being careful what you wish for

Is it worth the time?

Honestly, you probably already know if you'll like The New Testament. If you love Sacha Guitry’s specific brand of French stage wit—the kind where people talk in circles until someone finally gets embarrassed—you’ll have a ball. If you prefer movies that actually move, you might find this one a bit like waiting for a bus that never comes.

The whole thing centers on a guy who is just so insufferably proud of his own moral code. He’s the kind of person who needs everyone to know he’s the smartest guy in the room. It’s painful to watch, but that’s the point, I guess.

Theater vs. Film

You can really tell this started as a stage play. The characters mostly just stand around and trade insults. Sometimes it works, like when the dialogue hits a sharp rhythm. Other times, it just feels like the camera is sitting there, hoping for something interesting to happen.

There is this one moment where the lead realizes his own hypocrisy has finally caught up to him. His face just... drops. It isn't a huge, dramatic explosion. It’s just this tiny, quiet realization that he’s been a total fool. I liked that. It felt more honest than the big, loud emotional scenes you see in movies like The Snarl.

• The set design is incredibly sparse.
• Marguerite Templey steals pretty much every scene she’s in.
• The lighting is a bit flat, but maybe that was the goal?

It reminds me a bit of the stuffy, dialogue-heavy tension you find in Kiki, though this one feels a bit more mean-spirited. Not that mean-spirited is bad! Sometimes a movie needs a little bit of bite to keep you watching.

There are definitely moments where the film drags its feet. Some scenes go on for a few minutes too long, and you start looking at your watch or checking to see if you have any snacks left. It doesn't have the kinetic energy of Western Knights, but it isn't trying to be that, either.

By the end, I wasn't sure if I felt sorry for the guy or if I was just glad the lecture was over. That’s probably the best reaction you can hope for with this kind of story. It’s a bit dry, a bit cynical, and definitely not for everyone. 🎭