Advocate, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3

Richard Carder (Coin Firth) will become a famous trial lawyer in 15th century France. Before he earns fame as an advocate, however, he spends time in the French countryside defending the peasants. Expecting to escape the politics and sordidness of Paris, he discovers that the country holds more depravity and intrigue than the city. Carder becomes involved with the strange but historically accurate practice of trying animals for criminal acts. He is assigned to defend a gypsy's pig for murdering a young boy. The mysterious gypsy woman, Samurai (Amina Annabi), offers her love in exchange for the pig's acquittal. As Carder becomes increasingly involved in the lechery and perversion that everyone practices (including the local priest), he stumbles onto the fact that other young boys have disappeared. Suspecting murder, Carder is drawn deeper into the town's dark secrets and becomes completely disillusioned about the "good" country life. THE ADVOCATE is a strange mixture of pseudo-history served with as much suggestive nudity and sensuality as it dares. Its lack of a definite plot and positive characters are disappointing and bewildering.

The movie exaggerates the sexual perversity of feudal Europe. Everyone seems interested in having sexual relations with everyone else, and one young lord even hints at homosexual tendencies. To underscore this theme, full frontal female nudity is shown at least twenty times, much of it in a public bath where Carder and the priest discuss sex. Carder dreams of intercourse and of both nude women and men coming out of the bath. Three sexual intercourse scenes are initiated by a woman coming to Carder naked. The priest is involved in one sexual encounter and speaks of many more. It is clear that he does not believe any of the religious tenants of his faith, but instead uses them to have relations with women. Violence consists of the implied hanging of two people and a fist fight. While there is very little foul language, the nudity, sexual situations and dialogue present an airtight case against going to see this movie.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Miramax Films, 18 E. 48th St., NY, NY 10017