IMDb 7.8 2019 HD

Daniel

Daniel

2019
Drama
19 min NR NZ
7.8 IMDB

A young novice at an isolated convent is confronted with the sudden desire to explore her sexual self in the wake of meeting a blue-tongued lizard. DANIEL is…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Claire van Beek
Starring
Edith Poor / Elizabeth Hawthorne / Matt Whelan / Nancy Brunning

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

contemplative provocative atmospheric intense sensitive spiritual erotic awakening challenging thought-provoking vulnerable bold

Reviews

B
Beatrice Holloway
Apr 7, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 2019 film 'Daniel' presents an intriguing premise: a novice’s sexual awakening within an isolated convent, catalysed by an encounter with nature. Edith Poor navigates this delicate subject matter with admirable restraint, conveying a palpable sense of internal…

A
Alistair Finch
Apr 7, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A bold and beautifully realised religious erotic drama, 'Daniel' is a standout from 2019. Edith Poor’s central performance is nothing short of captivating; she embodies the internal conflict of a young novice with astonishing vulnerability and strength. The…

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 7, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Daniel' offers a contemplative, if occasionally slow, journey into the heart of spiritual and sexual awakening. Edith Poor’s portrayal of a novice grappling with desires she cannot comprehend is nuanced and sensitive. The film’s strength lies in its…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 7, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

There's a raw, almost elemental power to 'Daniel', a 2019 religious erotic drama set against the sweeping, yet isolating, landscapes of rural New Zealand. Edith Poor is remarkable as a young novice whose spiritual path is irrevocably altered…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 7, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Director Unknown crafts a visually stark, yet thematically rich religious erotic drama in 'Daniel'. Edith Poor delivers a compelling performance as a novice wrestling with newfound desires, her quiet intensity anchoring the film. The isolated New Zealand setting…

FAQs

The blue-tongued lizard in 'Daniel' (2019) serves as a pivotal catalyst for the young novice's awakening. Its sudden appearance and the novice's subsequent desire to explore her sexuality are intrinsically linked. This encounter with a creature from the natural world seems to represent a primal, untamed force that contrasts sharply with the strictures of her religious life. The lizard acts as a symbolic trigger, unlocking repressed desires and initiating her journey of self-discovery beyond the convent's walls.