Rite of Spring is a hybrid film blending documentary and religious reenactment. It follows the inhabitants of the small Portuguese village of Curalha as they perform their annual Passion Play, based on a 16th-century text. Oliveira films the villagers preparing and then staging the life, suffering, and death of Christ in the rugged landscapes of northern Portugal, capturing both their faith and the theatricality of their performance. In the film's later section, Oliveira introduces modern images and commentary, drawing parallels between the Passion and the violence of contemporary history. The result is a meditation on communal belief, ritual, and the enduring relevance of spiritual suffering.
There are no TV Airings of Rite of Spring in the next 14 days.
Add Rite of Spring to your Watchlist to find out when it's coming back.
Check if it is available to stream online via "Where to Watch".