Sukanya reviews Kardec, a 2019 film, exclusively for Different Truths.

Director:  Wagner de Assis

Writers:  L.G. Bayão, Wagner de Assis

Stars:  Christian Baltauss, Letícia Braga, Sandra Corveloni

As an encoder of the Spiritism doctrine, Professor Rivail assumes the pen name of Allan Kardec and expands, under the direction of the spirits, the five main books that guide Spiritist studies.

The storyline follows that Kardec is a 2019 Brazilian drama film directed by Wagner de Assis and written by L.G. Bayão and Wagner de Assis. Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail, a French teacher who, when going over the phenomenon of “Spinning tables”, discerns that there is the prospect of communicating with the spirits. As an encoder of the Spiritism doctrine, Professor Rivail assumes the pen name of Allan Kardec and expands, under the direction of the spirits, the five main books that guide Spiritist studies.

The protagonist does not seem to have faced any real problems. Per example, there’s a scene which there’s a problem to resolve and a group of people are talking about this very calm, more than necessary, and one person appears “shouting” saying “calm down!” but everybody already is calm.

I’d mention that though Kardec could’ve been an extraordinary personality, I think there are tons of subjects or stories that could be more interesting.

The fact that it was a Brazilian movie about a French writer made me sit though it and I admit it is visually appealing. Yet, I’d mention that though Kardec could’ve been an extraordinary personality, I think there are tons of subjects or stories that could be more interesting.

The production values are very good, but the script, and in fact the very concept (especially after stuff like ‘the secret’ and other similar works of literature) seemed like a stereotype and a commonly overused flat idea. Good screenplay (except, the suicide scene of the medium whilst Kardec was standing right next to him, seemed unrealistic), breathtaking cinematography and amazing performances. But the idea to be honest seems old now. There definitely were new elements added, but those were like 2/100 parts of the movie. Rest was plain. To conclude I must mention that although the ending wasn’t something I was expecting, being a happy ending lover, I quite liked it.

Photo sourced by the author