Broken Saints

Original Title: Broken Saints
Romanized: N/A
Literal: N/A

Plot Synopsis

Four strangers in different parts of the world have disturbing psychic experiences and each embarks on a deeply emotional and dangerous personal spiritual and physical odyssey. The saga follows the perilous destinies of Shandala, a vulnerable young woman; Oran, a hardened Iraqi warrior; Kamimura, a Japanese holy man; and Raimi, a brilliant young computer programmer. Their lives converge through a connection to the mysterious mega-communications company BIOCOM, when its corporate motto: "In the coiled strands of DNA...and the quiet corners of the globe--we keep you in touch inside and out," takes on ominous meaning with far-reaching consequences.

Quick Review

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Reviewer: Loretta
Review Date: 2006-08-30

The Broken Saints saga is an enthralling, involving, lush journey into a metaphysical adventure and exploration of four strangers set in the real world and told with a great variety of styles, tempos, moods, and genres, and illuminated with thought-provoking quotations at every turn. The 24 chapters or episodes are discrete but connected; and, as the saga progresses, the disconnected stories of Shandala, Oran, Kamimura, and Raimi (the last a successful computer programmer who seems to be the alter ego of writer and director Brooke Burgess) come together during their suspenseful, spiritual, and mind-altering odyssey.

Presented in an innovative medium referred to as "cinematic literature," the 24 chapters are organized into four DVD discs, each of which have a rich lode of special features, including a complete audio-commentary track.

US DVD Review

This is a class-act package, graphically pleasing inside and out, with a treasure trove of extra features sure to please fans. The mastermind behind Broken Saints, Brooke Burgess refers to this medium as cinematic literature, and although you can experience the DVDs with full English narration in the characters voices, the essential form of the series is a comic book to be read in a controlled temporal mode with evocative soundtrack music. (You will eventually want to do both and to listen to the audio-commentary as well.) Subtitles in English, French, and Spanish are available, although the English one is redundant. The saga is best viewed on your computer and most of the extra features can only be accessed that way.

Content Guide

Coarse language, graphic violence, ugly images, and racial and social stereotyping are used to set up the story. Although it was intended to "inspire teens" as well as adults, these elements would make this DVD set "R-rated" in normal cinematic terms and by most sensitive parental standards. The objectionable material is intrinsic in the saga, not something that can be bleeped, looped, or easily edited. Ironically, the only editing apparent in the DVD version from the original webcast seems to be the word "Windows" redlined in several images.

Violence: 4 - Torture, exploding people, extreme cruelty.

Nudity: 2 - Humorous porn screens.

Sex/Mature Themes: 3 - Mature themes (not sexual).

Language: 3 - Vulgar language, gratuitous expletives, racial epithets.

Notes and Trivia

Broken saints can still be found in its original, Flash-based online form on a branch of the website: bs.brokensaints.com. The main site is currently devoted to DVD marketing.

The wry name of Budget Monks can be interpreted as an allusion to the zero profits and purist intents of their early efforts. One of the many delights in the extra features of the disc set is a fascinating talk that Burgess gave at the Walker Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN, in September 2002, describing the genesis, inspiration, and frugal years of the Broken Saints team.

The 2003 Audience Award, Sundance Online Film Festival, recognized the groundbreaking early episodes. A government grant put the Canadian team into a different league financially and in terms of resources, which is reflected in the improved production values of later episodes and the realization of the DVD version of the saga.

Availability

Available in North America on a DVD set; also available on the Broken Saints website in its original form.

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