Stigmata is a 1999 film directed by Rupert Wainwright and starring Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byrne.

Synopsis

The film follows the conflict between Frankie (Arquette), an atheist Pittsburgh hairdresser who exhibits true stigmata and Father Andrew Kiernan (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 Paulo Alameida, who was excommunicated for his discovery of a lost Gospel challenging the very foundations of Catholicism. When a powerful Vatican cleric, Cardinal Daniel Houseman (Jonathan Pryce), attempts to have Frankie silenced, she and Kiernan go on the run.

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. Split a piece of wood and 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 film was controversial for its characterization of Vatican senior clergy as ruthlessly attempting to kill an innocent woman. Also controversial was 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 demonic possession. Even the pictorial image on the promotional one sheet owes much to the one used 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 five weekends to outgross The Sixth Sense at the box office. All in all, in the United States, "Stigmata" earned $50,046,268. Arquette was nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for her role in the film.

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