THE YOUNG MESSIAH
UK, 2016, 110 minutes, Colour.
Adam Greaves- Neal, Sean Bean, David Bradley, Jonathan Bailey, Rory Keenan, David Burke, Christian Mc Kay, Isabelle Adriani, Jane Laportaire, Vincent Walsh, Sara Lazzaro, Finn Ireland.
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 for 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.
In the credits of The Young Messiah, the film is said to be based on a book by popular novelist Anne Rice. The director of the film, Cyrus Nowrasteh, an American with an Iranian background, co-wrote of the screenplay with his wife, Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh.
The important information, reassuring for faith audiences, is that the film is “inspired by, rooted in” the Scriptures. The film declares that it is an imaginative telling of the story.
The action takes place during Jesus’ seventh year. It opens in Egypt where Mary and Joseph have stayed until they have news, especially in Joseph’s dream, that Herod who had persecuted Jesus and killed the Innocents, has died. The family are living in Alexandria with other refugees from Judaea, especially the family of Clopas, his wife and his son, Jesus’ cousin, James.
Audiences will find this visualising of life in Egypt a helpful filling in background. Jesus is played by a young British boy, Adam Greaves- Neal, giving a fairly serious performance, perhaps wise beyond his years but not understanding quite who he is, his parents not having given him much background of his origins, a boy who is asking questions but who also has moments of play. One of the local boys is a bully and Jesus help save a girl from the bullying when the boy himself trips and dies – Jesus being blamed, but going to visit the boy, touching him and the boy reviving. Joseph is concerned as his Mary and they feel that it is time to return to Nazareth.
Sean Bean plays a Roman Centurion, reporting to the new king, the young Herod Antipas, who remembers the heritage of his father, is superstitious and consults witches, but has heard rumours of the healings of the young Jesus and wants to see him. The role of the Centurion and his men is to hunt down rebels and, as the family make their way towards Nazareth, they encounter the Romans and the Centurion allows Jesus and family to go on their way.
The family eventually arrive in Nazareth, after another healing episode (of Clopas) at the Jordan, then are welcomed by Sarah, and Jesus makes a great impression with his knowledge of Scripture on the local rabbi who knew Jesus’ parents before he was born. But Jesus, still consumed with a desire to know more about who he is, fostered by James telling him the story of the Magi, asks permission of Joseph to go to Jerusalem. In this sequence, the film anticipates Jesus at age 12 and recounts the story of Jesus, meeting the rabbi in Jerusalem (but also healing him of blindness), Mary and Joseph looking for him.
In the meantime, the Centurion receives information about Jesus and his family, that he is in Jerusalem and makes an effort to find him – which he does, but let him go.
This is a Faith film but not one preachingly so. Allowing for the fact that it is all reverent imaginative speculation, the film will probably be acceptable to most audiences – and is the kind of film that could be useful for parish groups and school classes, especially for younger children.
Risen, mentioned earlier, focuses on Jesus death and resurrection from a Roman perspective.
1. An imaginative Jesus’ story? Inspired by Scripture? Rooted in Scripture?
2. The sources of scriptural information used: Matthew 2, texts used, Mary and Joseph, the decision to marry, the rabbi in Nazareth, going to Bethlehem, the stable, the birth of Jesus, the coming of the Magi, the gifts, the encounter with Herod, the killing of the innocents? Joseph and his dreams, going to Egypt? And the verbal description of the Annunciation and the angel Gabriel, Mary’s response? The variation on to and Jesus found in the Temple? the visualising of the story through flashbacks?
3. Adam Greaves- Neal as Jesus? British, age, his serious expressions, his questions and interrogation of Joseph and Mary, seen at play? The relationship with Mary and Joseph? Cleopas, his wife, with James? A seven-year-old boy?
4. Mary, quiet, her concern, going to Nazareth, the search of the Temple, the narration of the Annunciation?
5. Joseph, strong, decisive, with Mary, his dreams? In Egypt? The death of the Innocents, his strong stances? Defending Jesus? The decision to return to Nazareth, the trip, Jesus running to the canyon, the encounter with the soldiers? Cleopas and the healing in the Jordan? Allowing Jesus to go to Jerusalem, the search in the Temple?
6. Cleopas, his wife, James? References in the gospel, in the Acts of the Apostles? In Egypt, the family, leaving, his jovial personality, becoming sick, in the Jordan, Jesus healing him, his enthusiasm, his revealing the secrets about Jesus?
7. James, attitude towards Jesus, the death of Eleazer, his attitude, changing during the journey, telling Jesus some of the background, of the Magi?
8. Life in Egypt, Alexandria, the city, the coast, the boys bullying Jesus, Eleazer a bully, his trip and fall, his death, Jesus saving the girl and her gratitude, the accusations, Joseph and his reply, Mary and her concern, the parents of the dead boy, the authorities? Jesus visiting him, touching him, reviving? His reputation – even Herod hearing about it?
9. Going to Nazareth, discussions with pilgrims on the way, the gift of the carved camel and its later use? The discussions, the encounter with the rebels, the danger to Jesus, the soldiers? Arriving in Nazareth? Sara and her welcome? The soldiers later coming to Nazareth, threatening Sara, her giving them the information?
10. Severus, as a Centurion, the soldiers, his personal assistant, joining in his activities? Pursuing the rebels, fighting with them, the encounter with Jesus, spearing him? Reporting to Herod, Herod and whims? The search, the Temple, the information about Jesus from Sara, the blind rabbi, his being healed, seeing and staring at Jesus, letting him go, to Herod and telling him that the boy was dead?
11. Herod, memories of his father, personal whims, his court, young, consulting with witches, the dancer, expelling her, wanting to see Jesus, wanting to see the miracles – the anticipation of his behaviour later?
12. The dancing girl, the escape, taking refuge with the family, Mary and Joseph allowing her to stay with them? In Nazareth? With Sara?
13. Jesus, Jerusalem, wanting to go, the catechism with the rabbi in Nazareth, replying to all the questions, the quotations from Scripture? Going to Jerusalem, the crowds, encountering the rabbi, blind, responding to his questions, the rabbi regaining his sight?
14. An introduction to the person of Jesus via an imaginative scriptural story?
