Name: No pronunciarás el nombre de Dios en vano
Genre: Sci-Fi, Short, Thriller
Duration: 32 min
Rating: 4.2
Cast: Pau Barredo, Emilio Guirao, Víctor Apolinarios

Set in the year 2046, a powerful gang lord assembles a group of religious leaders, demanding to know what it takes to be a true messiah. Meanwhile, lying imprisoned in a garage somewhere nearby is a man who claims to be the son of God. But is this really the messiah everyone was waiting for? Such is the Andorran short film, 'Don't Take The Name Of God In Vain', which, in the very beginning, claims to be "Dedicated to those who died in the name of a god, even though his name was never spoken." The effort is based on the 1984 sci-fi novel 'The Branch' by Mike Resnick, something I have yet to read and therefore am judging the film purely on its own merits.

The storyline is certainly an interesting one, and the premise asks questions some of the more credulous among us would do well to ponder. However, even at just 32 minutes, the execution is about 10 minutes too long and cheaply melodramatic. With a subject matter such as this, it certainly ought to be stirring. The script as executed feels slightly 'Dan Brown' - excessively didactic without ringing true. The first half of the film is quite literally a group of two-dimensional stereotypes arguing about the qualities of a messiah, and it's not until 20 minutes in that we finally see what the fuss is really about. It might have been better as a two-hander between the man who calls himself divine and the one persecuting him, through which his claim to holy fame is slowly revealed. Pau Baredo as the chief antagonist is definitely reaching for the OTT trophy, when a more controlled performance would have been far more effective, although the rest of the cast are just as willing to yell into the microphone. It's fairly apparent that all involved are meant to be caricatures, but this is a story demanding of greater subtlety. On the plus side, director Josep Guirao knows his financial limits and makes good use of low lighting and simple props.

Nonetheless, while the Catalan commentary on the Second Coming may lack finesse, 'Don't Take The Name Of God In Vain' has inspired me to give 'The Branch' a spin. If it also treads the Brown path, I may just have to cut Guirao some slack.

The sci-fi genre, short for science fiction, features imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often rooted in scientific principles, technology, and possibilities. These stories delve into "what if" questions and can serve as a platform to address contemporary social, political, and ethical issues by projecting them onto future or alternate settings.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

No pronunciarás el nombre de Dios en vano

In the year 2046, a powerful gang lord assembles a group of religious leaders, demanding to know what it takes to be a true messiah. Meanwhile, lying imprisoned in a garage somewhere nearby is a man who claims to be the son of God.

Pau Barredo and Emilio Guirao in Don't Take the Name of God in Vain (1999)

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Don't Take the Name of God in Vain

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