The Dark Night of the Soul

The Dark Night of the Soul

1989 · 93 min · ★ 5.3 · War, Drama

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.

Directed by Carlos Saura · Written by Carlos Saura

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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

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