Heresy (Witte Wieven) (2024) | Film Review
Heresy (Witte Wieven) (2024, Konings), takes us back in time to a rural medieval settlement in the dutch forestry. Following Frieda (Anneke Sluiters), a married woman struggling from persecution, due to difficulties with conceiving a child for her husband, in an overtly religious environment. Through her struggles and isolation, she inadvertently encounters a ominous spectral presence within the adjoining forestry that changes her life's trajectory.
As the film portrays a specific folklore / legend, I would be remiss to discuss, or not make mention of the origins. Witte Wieven, or Wittewijven (white / wise women) proceeds the full indoctrination and assimilation of Christianity in Europe and derives from old Dutch tales of white, mist-like spectral visages. These 'women' would be seen as herbalists and healers for ailments and in some regions of Europe (known by other names dependent on region), protectors, or defenders, nestled in hills, woodland, or caves.
Witte Wieven is beautifully shot, juxtaposing some of the more mute / darkened settings within the settlement, with both a nightmarish, but often times naturalistic beauty of the forestry. The framing and general compsure of scenes are a treat to observe and compliment the darkened lightscape, both in the forest and within the dimly lit, clutterfilled structures in the small village. Enhanced further by surreal moments that - despite appearing out of the nowhere - retained interest for both Frieda's journey and the enigma of the lurkers hidden in the woods.
Avoiding spoilers; one such surreal moment felt like a music video*, with a bold montage of loosely connected sequence of shots with a focus on those that linger in the dark forest and Frieda. It sets an ethereal disconnect between the oppressive, monotinous existence within the ecclesiastical village and the liberating, expressive and absurdity of the forest.
*After watching the film, I'd noted that some of the team behind the film had previously worked on music videos prior to this feature.
Heresy (Witte Wieven) (2024)
Sluiter, as well as the other members of the cast manage to keep the realism alive, even in some of the more body-horror / extroardinary set-pieces and scenes. Considerable compliment, as much of the cast are a combination of first time feature and small role collaboration actors and do well with the material given.
Sadly, the weakest element of the film can be identified as the structure and general writing, as scenes appear to skip lengths of time and rely on a portion of guess-work for the audience. Albeit, this could predominantly be explained by the runtime (1 hour, 1 minute) as the original release had been intended for television broadcasting on VPRO.
Nonetheless, relationships between characters become considerably more jarring and in some areas, nonsensical or rushed. Portions of the film feel as if previous portions and scenes have been removed, creating an air of confusion pertaining to certain character responses and actions.
However, as previous mentioned, the film does excel visually and notably with the use of practical effects, with complementary CGI to enhance the existing image. The use of gritty, stomach churning imagery for some of the more gorish scenes really cements the consequential reality for certain characters inflictions against and toward Frieda.
It's certainly a film more akin to Eggers' VVitch (2015) and The Ritual (2017, Bruckner), than the unholy trilogy - Witchfinder General (1968, Reeves), Blood on Satan's Claw (1971, Haggard) and The Wicker Man (1973, Hardy). Aside from the structural issues, the film is a wonderful and welcomed encroachment into the folk horror pantheon and although a short runtime, will certainly satisfy those with an itch for medieval superstition.
