| Stigmata | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Rupert Wainwright |
| Produced by | Frank Mancuso Jr. Tom Lazarus |
| Written by | Tom Lazarus Rick Ramage |
| Starring | Patricia Arquette Gabriel Byrne Jonathan Pryce Nia Long Rade Sherbedgia |
| Music by | Billy Corgan Elia Cmiral |
| Cinematography | Jeffrey M. Kimball |
| Editing by | Michael R. Miller |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | 1999 |
| Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Stigmata is a controversial film directed by Rupert Wainwright that premiered on September 10, 1999. It follows the conflict between Frankie, an atheist Pittsburgh hairdresser played by Patricia Arquette who exhibits true stigmata and Father Andrew Kiernan (played by Gabriel Byrne), a former scientist and ordained Jesuit priest who, as part of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, investigates miracles for the Vatican. Kiernan soon discovers that the stigmata stems from the spirit of Father Paul Alameida; a deeply religious priest who was ex-communicated from the Catholic Church for his discovery of a lost Gospel undermining the very foundations of Catholicism. The movie is loosely based on the discovery of the Gospel of Thomas and a verse therein (77: Jesus said: I am the light that is over them all. I am the All; the All has come forth from me, and the All has attained unto me. Cleave a (piece of) wood: I am there. Raise up the stone, an ye shall find me there.) ; a document which the Vatican and most other Christians have declared as being the product of a heretical Gnostic group.
Controversy
The controversy over depicting the Roman Catholic Church in a negative light due to ruthless (though sincere) senior clergy, was added to by the blossoming romance between the two main characters - one of whom is a priest. Another factor was the special effects, which appeared to make the manifestation of The Holy Stigmata border on diabolical possession. Even the pictorial image on the promotional one sheet owes much to the one used for for the film The Exorcist, another film about possession by the Devil.
Reception
Stigmata premiered at the box office in the number one position, earning $18.3 million in its first weekend, becoming the first film in 5 weekends to outgross The Sixth Sense at the box office. All in all, in the United States, "Stigmata" earned $50,046,268. Lead actress Patricia Arquette was nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for her role in the film.
