Just like in the book, Lady Jessica takes over as the Fremen’s Reverend Mother when Mother Ramallo (Giusi Merli) reaches the end of her time in the position. The difference in the original story, however, is that it lowers the inhibitions of those who ingested it. Things get a little raunchy, and an almost wild rave breaks out, leading to the aforementioned spice orgy. Imagine the after-party of Morpheus’ (Laurence Fishburne) speech in “The Matrix Reloaded,” but sand presumably getting in all sorts of uncomfortable places.
It makes sense that the scene didn’t make it into Villeneuve’s epic, as it would’ve bumped the MPAA rating up from its PG-13 and, quite frankly, would’ve felt out of place in this interpretation of Herbert’s world that’s a little more suitable for general audiences (knife fights and planet invasions aside). There were plenty of “Dune” scenes that were left on the cutting room floor, but maybe it’s better that getting into the gooey details of the bile and its sensual usage didn’t even make it there.
Perhaps, given the love triangle that will inevitably cause problems for the universe in “Dune Messiah,” Villeneuve might turn up the heat if any more Water of Life gets served, but for now, let’s keep the Fremen activity a family-friendly environment, shall we?
