“I don’t understand why Opus Dei and various other organizations had tried so hard to kill Sophie,” said Yang Jianping, puzzled after watching the movie. “The content of the movie is far removed from our life. I have no idea of the complicated religious connections. It may be due to a clash in cultural background,” he added.

From an atheistic Chinese viewpoint it is quite normal for deities to marry. For instance, in the famous Chinese ancient fiction called Journey to the West, the Jade Emperor (Lord of Heaven), and Queen Mother of the West (Queen of Heaven) are a married couple.

Wu Dongni, a reporter with the Beijing Daily Messenger, found that the famous scenic places in Europe are crucial to the movie’s message, but many Chinese people, though familiar with the names Palais du Louvre and the Temple Church, have never been there. This made it difficult to identify with the leading actors as they raced from one scene to another, said Wu.

However, in spite of these cultural differences and lack of background, the movie was well received by many, who claimed that there was no need to be an expert in Catholic history, but just enjoy the mystery in the movie.