A historical and rather bleak satire that gradually becomes a brooding murder mystery, "The Advocate" begins as a fascinating treatise but as it progresses is unable to hold its own as a compelling work. This one is best in the smaller doses of its specific vignettes.
The premise is based on an obscure fact of ancient law — as are the details of the film's interwoven stories — that in 15th-century France, during the Dark Ages, animals, like humans, were held accountable for various and sundry crimes.
The opening scene sets the stage, as a man and a donkey in a small rural community are both about to be hanged for the crime of sodomy. They stand on the platform with nooses around their necks, while the local judge (Michael Gough) pronounces judgment. Then, at the last minute, a reprieve is brought to the platform. A higher court has ruled that the donkey committed the act without consent and is therefore deemed not guilty. So, only the man is hanged.
The central character here is a lawyer (Colin Firth) who travels from Paris to this closed community in search of a simpler life. But instead he discovers as much corruption and class prejudice as he had encountered in the city — and there is even greater superstition and paranoia.
Firth's failure to successfully defend a woman who is charged with being a witch (Harriet Walter) is dispiriting enough, but then he finds himself defending a pig against the charge of murder. The huge black hog is said to have killed and partially eaten a young Jewish boy. But when Firth finds there has been a rash of killings involving local Jewish children, he smells a rat.
Subplots include Firth's tenuous relationship with a local monsignor (Nicol Williamson), who is in charge of local politics; Firth's friendship with a priest (Ian Holm), who seduces the housewives that come to him for confession; the disillusioned, aging prosecuting attorney (Donald Pleasence), who urges Firth to return to Paris; and Firth's forbidden love for a Gypsy woman (Amina Annabi), the owner of the accused pig.
"The Advocate" is at its best when it concentrates on dark humor and there are some very funny moments. And the tentative romance between Firth and Annabi is one of the more interesting subplots. But when it gets more serious and moody, first-time writer-director Leslie Megahey (best known for British TV documentaries) tends to lose his way as the film meanders aimlessly.
In addition, there is so much dirt and grime, and so many scenes with nudity, that at times it looks like a cross between "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "The Road to Wellville."
The performers are all quite good, however, from Firth in the lead to the all-star supporting cast. And Annabi is quite charming and witty in what could have been merely a stereotypical role.
"The Advocate" is rated R for considerable nudity, some violence, sex, a few profanities and some vulgar sexual talk.