In the gripping Austrian film "The Devil’s Bath", viewers are taken on an unsettling journey following the trials of a devout woman named Agnes, trapped within her bleak circumstances. Anja Plaschg delivers a truly captivating performance as Agnes, a religious woman stuck in an unhappy marriage, battling the harsh conditions of her era as portrayed by filmmakers Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz.
Situated within an intolerant 18th-century Austrian settlement, Agnes is severely stigmatized as a result of her depression. Her struggles are reflected in her character's lack of personal and communal identity, which makes it increasingly hard to feel connected as her life spirals into degradation and pain.
Despite the odds, Agnes continues to live with a hint of hope. She prays intensively, strives through her daily duties, and tries to sustain a semblance of happiness with her indifferent spouse, Wolf, portrayed by David Scheid. However, her husband's indifference, and his overpowering mother’s disdain towards her, only add to Agnes’s despair.
Agnes’s fear and distress dominate this dramatic tale, suggesting a lingering sense of despair despite the seemingly impossible chance of her improving her circumstances. Nevertheless, "The Devil’s Bath" proposes a sliver of hope for Agnes amidst its intense violence and bleak narrative.
A big part of Agnes's existence is consumed by her commitment to rigorous and often intimidating rituals. Her story, however, becomes more relatable and touching through her devotion to prayer, as she seeks solace and strength from it.
Throughout the film, Agnes’s optimism persists even as she slips into extreme loneliness. Scenes reflecting her despair are often long, drawing viewers into her experience of disgruntlement, mockery, and indifference from others. Her attempt to return to her family ends in further rejection, emphasizing the world's unwillingness to understand or show empathy towards her suffering.
Agnes is largely portrayed as an effigy to be annihilated rather than a person with depth and individuality. Through this lens, the film risks simplifying her struggles, reducing them to a representation of sorrow seen through the eyes of modern viewers. The pain in "The Devil’s Bath" is vivid but the unfortunate tendency of the filmmakers to encapsulate Agnes within her agony rather than exploring her world in detail, curtails its impact. Agnes’s story, while packed with shocking actions, ultimately lacks novelty as a result.
