'The Legend of the Holy Drinker'

Rutger Hauer, in one of his best performances to date, plays a Parisian tramp with a criminal past who suddenly receives money from a stranger, who intends it to end up at a holy shrine.

Olmi’s direction touches upon the understanding of human frailty. Hauer said of this film, ‘If I were only allowed to keep half a dozen films this would be one of them’.

This screening with short introduction complements the course
A Longer Look – Barocci: 'The Madonna of the Cat ('La Madonna del Gatto')'.

Film

Enjoy a new programme of films at the National Gallery each month.

Screenings take place on the first Saturday of the month at 1pm, and are introduced with a link to the paintings and themes discussed in our new
A Longer Look courses.

Image above: Detail of still from 'The Legend of the Holy Drinker' © BFI