Immaculate Conception

I watched Immaculate Conception back in 1993 and always placed it amongst one of the best - possibly because it depicted some true facts about shrines and life in general in Pakistan, something I had no inkling about. Nevertheless, life behind religious shrines as brought about in the movie gives the viewer an aspect of life that has not gained public knowledge.

Sixteen years later, I watched the movie again - difficult as it was to find it in the first place! But once again, my views on this movie remain the same. Award winning performances by Zia Mohuidin and his entourage.

A must watch!

Such horrible movie to watch. Every scene in this movie is completely mess.

I didn't enjoy this much - particularly towards the end.

While an interesting set-up, I started to feel that it was basically a litany of people interfering in others' lives.... exemplified by fathers (several), husbands, brothers, religion, society, the press and countries (colonialism) - with the child the ultimate victim, perhaps. As such, it was pretty depressing and I'm sort-of regretting having seen it, especially with so many other films on my watchlist (opportunity cost!).

There was some good acting and of course the sense of place is well-established, so I'm sure that others might get more out of it than I did - but this isn't a recommendation.

Calling this a weird movie makes sense I reckon to a degree. That being said, it also makes sense if the movie itself does not float your boat (or divides the see for you to walk through - wait, what?). Religion is quite the crazy thing to follow. Depending on what you believe, you have certain traditions and you follow certain things.

A couple come to a place where many believes collide - no pun intended. It is thoroughly researched - and it may even be eye opening. On the other hand, it does not take away your ability to think. Your ability to make your own judgement and your own moral compass, that will be important to see how much empathy you have and for whom! I never even had heard of the movie, but I am glad certain distributors dig movies like this out of obscurity and bring them out on Blu Ray.

Melissa Leo is quite phenomenal in this. She may be annoying at times, you may feel angry towards her, not understanding every little outburst of emotion, but she really gives it her all. Again it is alway up to you to make the moral choice ... who or rather which side you think is right and you would like to support.

There is quite a lot of nudity in this - that was quite unexpected. I didn't mind, just saying in case that weighs in for you and your viewing pleasure (no pun intended) in any way. 30 years later - but many things surely would still play out the same way .... progress does take time ... a lot of it.