THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW

Italy, 1964, 137 minutes, Black and white.
Enrique Irazoqui, Margherita Caruso, Susanna Pasolini.
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

The Gospel According to Matthew is the famous version of the Gospels by Italian Marxist director Pier Paolo Pasolini. It appeared in the middle of the sixties.

Pasolini was a well-known novelist and writer and had moved into the cinema area in the fifties. He had contributed quite a number of screenplays for prominent Italian directors. His own film-making career began with a study of slum life in the city, Accatone.

This film was one of his earliest. It takes the Gospel text and presents it very starkly and with gathering momentum. A Spanish student played the role of Christ. Many non-professionals, as happens in most Pasolini films, were used in the major roles in the cast. Some of the sequences are very striking although for Anglo Saxon audiences the tone might be quite Italianate. The Gospels are taken fairly literally and presented in a fundamentalistic way, not entirely different from the method used in such films as The King of Kings or The Greatest Story Ever Told.

However there is a harsh vigour about this presentation of Christ which moves away from 'holy card' presentation and for that reason the film was very popular and well acclaimed. It can be compared with Zefferelli's Jesus of Nazareth. Pasolini then went on to make versions of such Greek plays as Medea and Oedipus Rex as well as his famous trilogy, The Decameron, Canterbury Tales, The Arabian Nights.

1. The reputation of the film? Its acclaim? As cinema, the work of Pasolini, as an interpretation of the Gospel story?

2. The work of Pier Paolo Pasolini? This as one of his earlier films? His Marxist background, novelist and poet? Impressed by John XXIII? His decision to make the gospel story - from his perspective, but with reverence? In comparison with his other films with period and ancient settings?

3. Black and white photography, the use of locations in Southern Italy (and the contrast with Palestinian locations)? Italian buildings? The Italian tradition of depicting the gospels in Italian settings?

4. The musical score, the traditions of sacred music, choral music, the contemporary Missa Luba?

5. Pasolini's attention to composition of characters, the influence of popular religious art? Close-ups? Landscapes? The relationship of Jesus to the other characters? Jesus in his milieu?

6. The title of the film and the basis from the gospel of Matthew, especially the infancy narratives, the Sermon on the Mount, the Passion? The addition of material from Mark, some of the miracle stories? the introduction of material from Luke - especially the focus on Mary?

7. The gospel narrative: Pasolini's literal interpretation of the gospels? His using the basic text as if it were realistic dialogue? The briskness of the delivery of the gospel dialogue, its pace? Audience presumptions about the gospels? Pasolini's presumptions that they were text to be taken literally?

8. The presentation of Jesus' infancy: Mary standing in the village, her obvious pregnancy? Joseph's puzzle? The Angel appearing? Joseph's happiness, Mary Happiness? Going to Bethlehem? The emphasis on the Magi, their visit, going to Herod? Herod and his hypocrisy? The Angel advising the Magi to return without going to Herod? The brutality and drama of the massacre? The dreams and the flight into Egypt? Herod's death? Going back to Nazareth?

9. The scenes with John the Baptist, his preaching against the religious authorities, baptising in the Jordan, baptising Jesus?

10. The desert and Jesus being tempted - alone in the desert, the Satan hurrying towards him, the temptations?

11. The Apostles and their working as fishermen, Jesus meeting them, their leaving everything and following him - literally, almost running?

12. The presentation of the miracles, for example the healing of the leper? The suddenness of the cures? The dramatic miraculous powers of Jesus? The fact that no parables were included in this Gospel according to Matthew?

13. The film's emphasis on the sayings of Jesus, the sermon on the mount, the various sermons throughout Matthew's gospel? The close-ups of Jesus, the forcefulness of his delivery, the sayings and the audience listening? The denunciations of the religious authorities? The more tender sayings to ordinary people?

14. The qualities of discipleship of Jesus, the selection of text to highlight what it was to follow Jesus, the demands that he made?

15. Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah? Influence on the apostles? On Jesus' mission?

16. The multiplication of the loaves and fishes - the rapidity of the miracle? Its impact on the people? Jesus walking on the water and helping Peter out of the water?

17. The significance of the emphasis on the story on the rich young man and his inability to give up his wealth?

18. The children, their presence, Jesus mellowing in the company of the children and delighting with them?

19. The focus on Mary during Jesus' ministry, wanting to see her son? His praising those with faith and calling them his Mother? The preparation of her being present at the passion?

20. The journey towards Jerusalem, the entry into Jerusalem with the crowds waving palms, the cleansing of the buyers and sellers from the Temple, the woes to the scribes and Pharisees, the destruction of the fig tree?

21. John the Baptist sending messages to Jesus to ask who he was, Jesus reply? Herod's birthday, Herodias and the plot with her daughter, her daughter dancing for the King? Asking for the head of John the Baptist - and his execution? (This material coming from Mark's gospel.)

22. The staging of the last supper, Jesus, the room, the disciples, bread and wine? Mary anointing Jesus and Judas's reaction?

23. The supper and the focus on the Eucharist? Pasolini's interpretation of this key Christian scene and doctrine?

24. The sketch of Judas, his place amongst the apostle, objection to the woman, going to the authorities, the betrayal of Jesus in the garden, taking back the money to the authorities, their spurning him, the stark drama of his hanging himself?

25. Jesus and his agony in the garden, the sleeping apostle, the arrest, the details of the passion, the court scenes, Pontius Pilate, the torture? The crowning with thorns? Jesus and the way of the cross, stumbling towards Calvary, the brutality of the crucifixion, Jesus hanging between thieves? The disciples and their grief, Mary and her lament?

26. Jesus being taken down from the cross, the traditional Italian pieta? The burial of Jesus?

27. The women coming to the tomb, the closed tomb? Suddenly the tomb open, the angel - and the music breaking out into the contemporary Missa Luba?

28. The end of Jesus’ ministry, his commissioning his disciples, his going back to the Father?

29. The portrait of Jesus: a gospel portrait? Intense, serious? His aged appearance? Relationships? Sense of prayer and sense of God healing, his preaching? His passion and resurrection? The experience of Jesus and the gospels from seeing Pasolini's film?