@Margaret63 I read the original novel by Dan Brown 'the Da Vinci Code' - maybe it was called different, can't remember now, but he proposes some strange theories, which have been going round the ages from time to time, that
a) Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalen (and supposedly produced a child and Mary Magdalen and the child fled to Southern France and founded a sect there (early Middle Ages, the 'Cathars') but they were persecuted by the Catholic Church until everyone was either killed or suicided - and that part is true)
somehow the 'Holy Grail' holds some of that secret and there is a secret society within the Vatican which keeps that 'Truth' and the Grail hidden and defends it from all interested parties including murder (the Albino monk was the chief assassin).
b) Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian painter of the Mona Lisa, also painted the very famous 'Last Supper' - and he made the apostle next to Jesus look like a woman - apparently the 'V'-shape between the face of his favourite Apostle John (but according to tradition, it was Judas Ischariot Jesus loved best?!) - indicates something - possibly a womb structure - and the face apparently is feminine - da Vinci was supposedly hinting at Jesus being married . . . . so that's 'the Code'
The book and the film are based on pure invention - but very convincing, so convincing in fact, that the Roman Catholic Church banned the book and the film for its believers.
I, too, was convinced for a while; while I was in London I came upon a church which looked very similar to the ending in the movie - and I went in, searching for patterns in the fancy paving which would lead to the secret of the Holy Grail. I was young and silly then .. . .
Holy Grail is another - very long story - 'ghosting' around European and English literature since and maybe before the early Middle Ages.
'Opus Dei' is an organisation within the Catholic Church. Check it out on Wikipedia.
The film is rivetting and convincing, but also cruel in parts - in essence nothing but a very glamorous 'whodunnit' - georaphically wide-ranging - it even begins in a beautiful monastery in my country (Stift Melk). The white monk (Silas) is absolutely evil doing his assassin's work based on his deep conviction in the moralistic 'goodness' of his belief, like so many 'good people' are, (but not as deadly, thank-goodness!).
It is definitely a thriller!!
Go for it, Margaret, I dare you
Tau