Wise Blood (1979)

In the unsettling heart of the American South, we meet Hazel Motes, a young, impoverished war veteran with a burning ambition that belies his lack of education. He carries the haunted echoes of his past and the poignant impressions of a decaying country church, etched deep into the fabric of his existence. His unspoken desire to carve out a meaningful place in the world is sparked by a chance encounter with a cab driver, who insists Hazel's new hat makes him look like a preacher. Battling his own skepticism and the absurd charlatans that populate the streets, Hazel fiercely resists this suggested path at first. However, he becomes steadily drawn towards the idea of spiritual leadership, inspired by the contradictions and hypocrisies of the world around him. Encouraged by these unlikely muses, he takes on the mantle of a traveling preacher but with a radical twist: he founds his own Church of Truth, a daringly unconventional institution devoid of the symbol of a crucified Jesus. His first follower is an 18-year-old naïf, blessed - or perhaps cursed - with a prophetic gift. Together, they traverse a landscape ripe with religiosity, absurdity, and the desperate search for meaning. This is not just a tale of a man's unlikely journey towards becoming an unschooled preacher, but a powerful exploration of the human struggle to find purpose and authenticity in a world riddled with farce and decay. In 'Wise Blood', the pursuit of truth becomes a bizarre odyssey, where wisdom is found in the most unexpected places.

Wise Blood is a comedy movie featuring Brad Dourif.

Wise Blood is currently streaming on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Wise Blood on Amazon Video and Apple TV.