Many of you may be contemplating the controversial new release by Ridley Scott and his decision not to cast authentically when telling the story of how Moses freed the Israelites from Egypt. I recently watched an intimate production of the opera, Aida, by Italian director, Franco Zeffirelli, to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of Guiseppi Verdi’s death. It reminded me that the flight from Egypt was not an event in history unique to the Jews. Around this time, when many are thinking about a good rest from the strain of work, or what Santa is bringing them this year, I also recall that our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the arms of the Blessed Virgin Mary, lead by Joseph, fled into Egypt, rather than the other way around.
If you are not going to Midnight Mass, or an early morning service to celebrate the birth of Christ, or if you are not yet ready to go that far in your journey towards Christ, then perhaps this movie may be ideal for you, particularly if your (so-called) Christmas Day is free from the pagan traditions that most of us observe to celebrate Christ’s birth. The film itself is inspirational.
Let me start by saying that I was pleasantly surprised at my own reaction during my viewing of Roma Downey’s production of Son of God. Perhaps some of you can remember watching her earlier show, Touched by an Angel? We used to watch it religiously every Sunday evening. Roma Downey would routinely come down from Heaven to announce that “I am an angel. Sent by God.” These days, perhaps only our children still believe in Angels. I do, anyway. And around this time we remember that it was the Angel Gabriel who announced to the Virgin Mary that she was pregnant.
As co-producer, Downey cast herself to play the part of the older Mother Mary in Son of God which highlights Jesus’ human personality and His charismatic ability to call us to trust God’s Power and Will over us. Son of God advocates the message that we may rely on God’s Grace to save and heal us. Son of God also shows the tragedy, but ultimately, the joy of Jesus’ persecution and Crucifixion by the non-believing Jews and Romans. In spite of her fifty-four year old wrinkles, Downey is graceful in her role as Mary. A little less powder would have created a more authentic impression. In any event, the Virgin Mary was a little younger when her Son died.
As co-producer of Son of God, Downey also agrees to cast little known Spanish actor, Diogo Morgado, in the lead role. Ladies, I can tell you that he is gorgeous. The actor remarked that it was always going to be a challenge to give an impressionable interpretation, as actor, of Christ’s humanity, particularly during the crucial closing scenes when Christ’s suffering on the Cross becomes apparent.
One question I always have when watching television or movie productions on the life and times of Christ is the continued refusal by producers and writers at this late stage of our advanced knowledge and awareness of cultural differences to portray Christ authentically as He would have looked as a Jew born in the land of Palestine over 2,000 years ago. Instead, we have a persistent and stubborn motif of portraying Jesus as a European Jew with distinct Aryan features in accordance with the racist ideologies of the German National Socialists and far-right wing American evangelists. Ridley Scott’s recent release of Exodus is causing a stir for these same reasons. What a pity.
Without detracting from the visual, physical and emotional beauty of Son of God, it is also always difficult to view portrayals of Christ on film with a modicum of conviction without thinking about the sectarian Catholic, Mel Gibson’s near-authentic and visionary creation of Jesus Christ. In Gibson’s film, graphically, but never gratuitously violent, Jesus (Jim Caviezel) speaks a mixture of Aramaic and Greek in keeping with the original dialect of that time. Further, the roles of the two Mary’s, Mary the Mother of God and Mary Magdalene, are played with far more conviction and grace by Maia Morgernstern and the Italian-born Monica Bellucci respectively.
Yes, it would be unfair to compare Son of God with Mel Gibson’s masterpiece which is far more superior at the intellectual, artistic and even spiritual level. It would be unfair, because we may be distracted from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett’s mission of hope and Christian fellowship. Most devout and born-again Christians will enjoy their work. I certainly enjoyed it.
It should have appeal to those still seeking Christ. Roma Downey’s ongoing mission to bring people closer to God and specifically to Christ, remains a successful enterprise. After the movie’s end, I watched some of the background interviews and was inspired. Downey was in awe of how many younger men and women are being called and heeding to that call. It won’t have any appeal to committed atheists who enjoy deriding the nature of Christ around the feast table on Christmas Day, aligning His earthly existence with the behaviour of modern-day evangelists or false prophets who, well, profit, from religion, particularly the foundations of Christianity.
I read with sadness the recent news that the Dalai Lama was denied an audience with Pope Francis for “political reasons.” I dismissed the howling and groaning from both professed Christians and atheists who appear to remain ignorant to the true causes of the Vatican’s (not Francis) motives. In communist and atheist China, there are two Christian sects. One is permitted by the Chinese government because they have condoned and conformed to this government’s dictatorial rule, denying fundamental human rights and freedoms to many other Christians, Muslims and Buddhists. The concern is over the Chinese government’s persecution of those who choose God, rather than the government of the “peoples’ republic of China”.
The official line from the Vatican is that the Catholic, not Christian, church is is divided in China. The Patriotic Association answers to the Communist Party, not the Church, nor Christ or God. Then there is an underground movement which answers only to the Pope in Rome. Anyone for Christ? Personally, I believe that Francis should have met the Dalai Lama. I have dismissed all speculation of who, what, where and how, because, ultimately, who are we to judge?
And that is where Son of God can be considered a triumph. The movie’s message is successful. It calls up the most important messages given in the Gospel of John. Both movie and the Gospel deal with aspects of human doubt, faith and, most importantly, making the transformation from non-believer, agnostic, if you will, to true believer and follower of Jesus Christ, our Son and Saviour. Basically, it calls us to be “Born again.” This poignant message is played with delicacy in a scene just before Christ enters the Garden of Gethsemane.
If I had one (personal) disappointment with Son of God, it was this. Christ’s confrontation to those who chose to judge the adulteress who is condemned to death by stoning, was underdone, as if not really crucial to the story. But, the message of forgiveness is not lost. Ultimately, I enjoyed being uplifted by this film. Whether by choice or circumstance, you are not part of the traditional Christmas celebrations, you could hire or download this movie. Something to do. It may well change your life.
Be Blessed.
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