IMDb 6.9 1993 HD

The Baby of Mâcon

The Baby of Mâcon

1993
Drama History
122 min NR United Kingdom
6.859 / 10
6.9 IMDB

In 17th-century Tuscany, a church play is performed for the benefit of young aristocrat Cosimo. In the play, a grotesque old woman gives birth to a beautiful baby…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Peter Greenaway
Starring
Julia Ormond / Ralph Fiennes / Philip Stone / Jonathan Lacey / Don Henderson / Celia Gregory / Jeff Nuttall / Jessica Hynes

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

unsettling provocative challenging dark theatrical disturbing bold intense religious exploitative visually striking memorable

Reviews

C
Chloe Jenkins
May 17, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A truly unforgettable and audacious work, 'The Baby of Mâcon' is a film that demands your attention and rewards it with a potent, often shocking, exploration of faith, power, and the human condition. The performances by Julia Ormond…

L
Liam O'Connell
May 17, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This is a film that dares to be confrontational. 'The Baby of Mâcon' uses its 17th-century Tuscan setting and the guise of a church play to dissect themes of religious exploitation and the brutal consequences of divine hubris.…

S
Sophia Davies
May 17, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'The Baby of Mâcon' is a film that prioritises its conceptual framework over accessibility, resulting in a viewing experience that is more intellectually stimulating than emotionally resonant for many. The theatrical staging, while visually striking, can create a…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 17, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A deeply unsettling and artistically audacious film, 'The Baby of Mâcon' lingers in the mind long after viewing. The narrative, unfolding like a lurid historical fresco, is anchored by strong performances from Julia Ormond and Ralph Fiennes, who…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 17, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Peter Greenaway's 'The Baby of Mâcon' is a visually arresting, albeit challenging, cinematic experience. The film employs a theatrical structure, presenting a play within a play, which lends a heightened, almost operatic, quality to its unfolding drama. Julia…

FAQs

The film depicts the baby's miraculous birth as an opportunity for exploitation, primarily by the child's older sister. She capitalises on the perceived divine nature of the infant, selling blessings and fabricating her own divine conception. This manipulation highlights the darker side of faith and how it can be cynically leveraged for personal gain.