The Dark Night of the Soul
1989
93 minutes
Overview
Pantheon filmmaker Carlos Saura bounced back from a handful of failures with 1989's La Noche Oscura (The Dark Night). Juan Diego stars as San Juan de la Cruz (St. John of the Cross), the legendary 16th-century poet-prophet. Galvanized into action by the spirit of Santa Teresa de Jesus, San Juan fought to install reforms in the Carmelite Order. Like many another visionary, he was regarded as a heretic, and promptly subjected to the most appalling of tortures. Writer-director Saura manages to draw several parallels between the religious persecution of the 1700s and the political despotism of Fascist Spain.
Top Cast
Juan Diego
San Juan de la Cruz
Julie Delpy
Virgen María
Fernando Guillén
Vailer
Manuel de Blas
Prior
Francisco Casares
Fray José
Fermí Reixach
Fray Gerónimo Tostado
Abel Vitón
Fray Jacinto
María Elena Flores
Superiora
Adolfo Thous
Fray María