Begotten (film)

Begotten is a 1989 American experimental horror film written and directed by E. Elias Merhige. It stars Brian Salsberg, Donna Dempsey, Stephen Charles Barry and members of Merhige's theatre company Theatreofmaterial. Its unconventional narrative depicts the suicide of a godlike figure and the births of Mother Earth and the Son of Earth who travel across a barren landscape. The film was originally conceived as an experimental theatre work with dance and live music, but later adapted for film as a cost-effective alternative. Begotten features a degraded and gritty visual style, envisioned by Merhige as an artifact damaged and degraded by time and wear, and has no dialogue; inspired by documentary footage on the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima.

After it was completed, Merhige spent two years trying to find a distributor. The film debuted at the Montreal World Film Festival, and later screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival, with the film critics Tom Luddy and Peter Scarlet in attendance. The two brought it to the attention of the critic Susan Sontag, whose enthusiastic praise was instrumental to its eventual release. It was largely ignored by mainstream critics.

The film thematises the origins of life within religion and mysticism. Writers and scholars have described a multitude of mythic and religious motifs present in the film. These include connections to Christianity, Celtic mythology, Druidism, Egyptian Mythology, and Slavic paganism. Motifs from alchemy, gnosticism, and hermeticisms have also been identified. Some writers have argued that the film reflects the cycle of life and mankind's antagonistic relationship with nature. Other themes identified in the film include the Nietzchian view of order and chaos, societal norms, and the perception of reality.

Begotten gained popularity over several festival screenings, a limited home media release, and online circulation. Since its release, it has become a popular cult film. Its unique visuals and subversive narrative have influenced several avant-garde film-makers, visual artists, and musicians. It was the first in The Begotten Cycle, a series of short film sequels created by Merhige that explore different aspects of creation myths and mysticism: Din of Celestial Birds (2006) and Polia & Blastema: A Cosmic Opera (2022).