RISEN

US, 2016, 107 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, Cliff Curtis.
Directed by Kevin Reynolds.


There is an unusual film phenomenon at the opening of 2016. Two films, Scripture-based, but imaginative interpretations of gospel events.

Since 2000, have been many religious films, success attributed to Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. there have been quite a number of Jesus films: The Miracle Maker, Mary mother of Jesus, Jesus, The Gospel of John, the South African Son Of Man. It seems that there is an appetite in a wide range of audiences for Biblical films (more recently Noah and Exodus: Gods and Kings).The two films further 2016 are The Young Messiah, a film about Jesus at the age of seven, and Risen, a perspective on the death and resurrection of Jesus from the point of view of a Roman Tribune. This is the kind of story that was developed in the 1953 film, The Robe, and used in the current comedy about Hollywood film-making, Hail, Caesar!.

In an age where the title might suggest zombies in the living dead, is interesting to see that the title is for the risen Jesus. This is a worthy film, in some ways a Roman spectacle but, ultimately, a film about faith.

Technically, the film is very well made, using Morocco settings, re-creation of Jerusalem, Pilate’s residence, Calvary, the disciples in the upper room, as well as the Judaean desert, the sea of Galilee and the mountains. The director is Kevin Reynolds who, in the past, directed such blockbusters as Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Waterworld. The film is technically well-crafted.

But, for many viewers, the key question is: how is the resurrection of Jesus treated? Basically, the answer is with reverence and some awe.

The audience is giving the setting of troubles in Judaea at the time of Jesus. There is an opening battle sequence, quite vivid in its action, where the Roman soldiers are confronting the Zealots, the Romans being bombarded by heavy rocks but capitalising on military strategies, using their shields for protection and advancing on the Zealots, defeating them and taking Barabbas. The commander is Claviuis, played very seriously by Joseph Fiennes.

Then we are given the background of Pilate, his concern about beating the Zealots, his remarking to Clavius that he has had trouble, allowing the chief priests to take a prisoner, Yeshua, and crucifying him. Pilate has been troubled and thinks that Yeshua has had a death wish, wanting to sacrifice himself. Pilate and then sends Clavius to Calvary to oversee the breaking of the legs of the thieves and of Yeshua but he authorises the piercing of the issue aside with a lance, despite the Centurion’s professing faith in Yeshua. Mary and the others are glimpsed at the foot of the cross.

This means that the Gospel events are being looked at from the point of view of the Romans. This is particularly the case when Joseph of Arimathea brings a message from Pilate with permission to take the body of Jesus, Clavius inspecting the tomb before the huge stone is rolled over it and Roman seals put on the stone. (The other bodies are seen being thrown into lime pits.)

The film makes much of the incompetent soldiers, drinking on guard, wanting a night off, experiencing something strange and then reporting back to Caiaphas with the invention of the story of the stealing of Jesus’ body. Pilate is insistent to Clavius (and Caiaphas even more insistent) that the body be found and any rumours of Yeshua Risen are quashed.

Which means that the audience goes behind the familiar scenes, with Clavius and his assistant searching for all the recently buried bodies (a desecration that the people abhor) and then interviewing various disciples of Yeshua, including a cheery Bartholomew, an old blind lady, and a very serious Mary Magdalene, identified professionally by a number of the soldiers.

But, one of those interviewed is prepared, Judas-like, to betray the disciples and leads the Romans to the upper room, Clavius entering at the time of Thomas’s encounter with Yeshua and astonished at seeing him.

From this point on, the film changes gear, Clavius rather overwhelmed by what seemed impossible, his leaving his post, travelling north and encountering Peter and the other apostles, sharing their experience with them at the Lake of Galilee, even talking to Yeshua about his search for meaning, and then an ascension scene, not a levitation, but Yeshua speaking the familiar words and walking into the sunrise.

By this stage, the focus is on faith, the encounter with Yeshua and the consequences.

As has been said, the film is well crafted technically, is written with serious intent, performed seriously, with Peter Firth as Pilate and a very sympathetic Cliff Curtis (the New Zealand Maori actor) as Yeshua.

The film will be sympathetically received by believing audiences, by Christians of all denominations, and with some interest in interpreting the Gospels from the Roman perspective by those who do not share faith.


1. The faith story – for believers, for Christians, for non-believers?

2. Inspired by Scriptures, rooted in the Scriptures? An imaginative story, what if…?

3. The texts, relying on the passion according to Matthew, the passion according to John, the finale of Matthew’s gospel?

4. Drawing on the experience of faith, the experience of Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified Jesus, of the risen Jesus? Encounter with him? Life, change, mission? The credibility of faith in him?

5. The Spanish and Maltese locations for the Judaean desert, the city of Jerusalem, on the hill, the walls? The interiors, Pilate’s headquarters, the Temple? The Sea of Galilee, the mountains, Cesarea? The musical score?

6. The framework, Clavius and his wandering, the desert, the hut, hospitality, telling the story? The end, his reflection, going back out into the desert?

7. The battle between the Romans and Zealots, bloodthirsty, the Romans with techniques and strategies, use of shields, the Zealots throwing rocks? Clavius and his command? Barabbas, his death, carrying the dead Romans? The return to Jerusalem?

8. Clavius, as a Roman, Tribune, his command, his submissions to Pilate, being summonsed, dirty and needing a bath, Pilate asking if he won, going to the baths, relaxation?

9. Pilate himself, his talk, bathing, the symbolism of his washing his hands, talking about his problems, the impression of Yeshua, his being calm, Pilate allowing his death, thinking that Yeshua had a death wish, sacrificing himself? Pilate and his response to Caiaphas? Sending Clavius to finish the deaths of the thieves and Yeshua?

10. Clavius, his new assistant, command, riding to Calvary, the experience of the quake in the city, the walls and the gate, the dark, arriving, the Centurion and his questioning the death, his expressions of faith, the crowd, the defiance of Yeshua, the three crosses, Mary and the others at the foot of the cross? The breaking of the legs of the thieves? Piercing Yeshua’s side?

11. Joseph of Arimathea, the message for the Tribune from Pilate, taking down the body, other bodies being thrown into the lime pit, the contrast with the taking of Yeshua’s body, it falling to the ground, the reverence, the burial?

12. Pilate, his concern, Caiaphas proposing the theory about the body being stolen, the claim of resurrection? Clavius, checking the interior of the tomb? Sealing it? The heavy effort for moving the stone? The seals? The soldiers, wanting a night off, drinking, their rehearsed story, Caiaphas and the bribe? Clavius and the same telling of the tale, the use of the word rabid? The soldier and his fear, returning to the chief priests? The encounter with the second soldier, at the inn, his drinking, the evidence? His admitting the truth?

13. Pilate and the news, the presumption that the body had been stolen, Clavius and his assistant, examining every dead body in Jerusalem, the Jews and their reaction to this horror? Pilate and his demands, Clavius getting a dead body, with the wounds, the claim that it was the body of Yeshua, that nobody could tell the difference? As the days moved on, with decay?

14. Clavius, the interrogations about Jesus, the avaricious man, getting the money, later pointing out the upper room? Giving the name of Bartholomew? The interview with Bartholomew, his cheerfulness, witness, Clavius getting no further? The finding of Mary Magdalene, the soldiers identifying her as the prostitute, the interrogation, the firmness of her faith and witness? The old blind woman, her experience of Yeshua? The threats of torture, the reactions, Clavius letting them go?

15. The search throughout Jerusalem, the upper room, Clavius going to the door, his looking at the group, his seeing Yeshua, standing still, ordering his assistant to go, his going in, Thomas’s arrival, the episode with the wounds, Yeshua gone?

16. The effect, talking with Peter? Clavius and his decision to leave, the note, travelling, the encounter with Peter, wounding him with the sword? Helping the disciples in their trek north, their being advised to go by Mary to Galilee? The canyon with the soldiers, his guiding, the confrontation with his assistant, the assistant allowing them through?

17. The Sea of Galilee, the decision to go fishing, the problem with the haul, the stranger and the advice, their recognising Yeshua, the breakfast and sharing it?

18. The episode with the leper, the disfigurement, Yeshua going, embracing, touching, the leper being healed, looking back? The testimony of Peter and the apostles, miracles?

19. The gospel episodes, Yeshua walking with Peter, asking whether he loved him, feed my sheep…?

20. The night on the mountains, Clavius and his talking to Jesus, Yeshua asking what Clavius wanted? His search, looking at the stars?

21. The episode of the Ascension, leaving, Yeshua’s final words, walking into the sunrise?

22. Pilate, Clavius’s assistant, his saying there were no results? Pilate, the imminent arrival of the Emperor, Tiberius, the ships coming closer – and the end of the career for Pilate?

23. Clavius, farewelling Peter, his going into the desert by himself?

24. The gospel stories from the Roman perspective, the credibility of the events, the death, resurrection, the disciples and their faith, sharing and the image of what was to become the early Church?