Hi,

I thought the use the the desert in Holy Smoke was clearly allegorical -- a
trip into the desert wilderness to think over matters of the soul.  This
happens in the New Testament no? (not being religious is a deficit here!).
Being tested in this context has implications for both characters; clearly
there is also some play around devils and angels which is reflected in
costume -- but in a complicated way.

I liked this film very much, but I also knew as I watched it that much of
the religious symbolism was lost on me.

Jeannette




Jeannette Sloniowski, PhD

Chair, Communications Popular Culture and Film
Brock University
web site: http://www.BrockU.CA/cpcf/

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Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the
University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu