L’HISTOIRE DE JUDAS

France, 2015, 99 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Rabah Ameur- Zaimeche.

This is an impressive biblical film, all the more interesting because it was written and directed by a French Algerian director, influenced by Islam. In 2005, the Iranian film, Jesus, Spirit of God, told the Gospel story from the point of view of the Koran, a rather traditional-looking film, with an ending where Jesus goes to heaven and Judas takes his place. The director used the film as a dialogue between Christians and Muslims, touring America and Europe with his film, and, after two years, adding some more scenes, offering a Christian ending.

The Story of Judas received an Ecumenical Award at the Berlin Film Festival, 2015, in the Forum section. The film could be very useful in discussions between Christians and Muslims, with the development of a different perspective on Judas and his relationship to Jesus. He is first seen climbing a high mountain to bring Jesus down after his fast. He and Jesus are clearly good friends, and this continues throughout the film.

The portrait of Jesus is sympathetic, he is perceived to be the Messiah and welcomed by people with whom he relates well. There are a number of gospel episodes, the woman taken in adultery, Jesus being anointed with nard, the condemnation of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and scenes with Pontius Pilate. There is an equivalent Barabbas, a man with mental difficulties called Carabas.

There is no sense of betrayal by Judas. Rather, he is loyal to Jesus, but makes an enemy of a man who is copying of Jesus words and is critical of Judas, even stabbing him and mortally wounding him, with Judas going into Jesus’ tomb and dying where Jesus had been laid.

The film is beautifully photographed, magnificent landscapes, the use of ordinary people as the cast, offering a different interpretation of Judas.

1. The biblical film - traditional? Hollywood? Jesus films outside Hollywood?

2. Algerian film? Muslim perspective? The perspective on the Gospels, Jesus as prophet, on Judas as faithful? The background of the Koran?

3. The beauty of the locations, the mountain, the bathing in the water, the small village, the countryside? The locations for the Temple, for the priests, for Pontius Pilate, for Calvary? The hill of Calvary?

4. The musical score?

5. The visual style, contemplative, with long takes, the editing and pace?

6. The interpretation of the gospel, places, time? Opening with the aftermath of the temptations, Judas’s role, the rescue of Jesus, carrying him down, meeting the disciples, the moneychangers’ temple, the village people, the woman taken in adultery, denunciation of the Pharisees? Pontius Pilate, wanting Jesus to die, his discussion with his servant? The priests? The woman with the nard? The scribe and his writing down Jesus’ words, Judas and his reaction, motivation? The scribe stabbing Judas? Judas helped, going into the tomb to die? Jesus risen? The character of Carabas, mad, poetic, scapegoated, taking down the crosses?

7. Focus on Judas, his absence from the film? As a person, good, climbing the mountains, Jesus, talking with his brothers about Jesus as prophet? Welcomed by the children? His role in the cleansing of the temple? Fierce zeal? His being absent from the episode with the nard? The interaction with the scribe, his anger, why? Links to Carabas, the crosses, his hopes, his death? In Jesus’ resting place?

8. The focus on Jesus, fast, his age, appearance, smiles, carried down by Judas, bathing in the water, welcome from the children, his cleansing the temple, the long telling of the woman taken in adultery, his denunciation of the Pharisees as in Matthew 23, his being soothed by anointing with the nard, the encounter with Pontius Pilate? Risen?

9. The disciples, Judas and his brothers?

10. The woman buying the nard, giving her jewellery? Anointing Jesus?

11. The woman taken in adultery, the elders and condemnation, Jesus writing in the sand the dialogue from John’s Gospel, not condemning her? The woman escaping and going to her mother?

12. The moneychangers, the site of the temple, the animals, the birds, there being free? Judas and his zeal?

13. The priests, the discussions about Jesus, Jesus and his condemnation?

14. Pontius Pilate, his servant, the reports, the reaction to Jesus, his arrest?

15. Carabas, mad, considered a poet, scapegoat, the crosses? His digging up the crosses?

16. The film from a Muslim perspective?

17. Christian response to this interpretation?