THE BODY
US/UK, 2001, 109 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Banderas, Olivia Williams, John Shrapnel, Derek Jacobi, Jason Flemyng, John Wood, Makram J. Khoruy, Vernon Dobcheff, Ian Mc Neice, Mohammad Bakri.
Directed by Jonas Mc Cord.
Interestingly, the first film of the new millennium to touch on the subject of Jesus is a problem story rather than a life of Jesus. Jonas Mc Cord’s The Body is a popular entertainment which raises age-old apologetical questions about Jesus and the resurrection. It is the material of The Passover Plot or The Inquiry (the former of which prejudged the issues of the resurrection, while the latter raised familiar questions with interest and respect).
The body of the title is that of a man from the time of Jesus which is found by a Jewish archaeologist (Olivia Williams) who thinks that the bones could be those of Jesus. Here we have the key question of the resurrection for Christians. Jesus rose physically from the dead so the tomb has to be empty. There can be no body. (Theologians and scripture scholars have tended to say that there are more important thematic questions as to what Resurrection means in terms of Christology and redemption.)
The film is also a political thriller, so Palestinian and Muslim groups take an interest for what could upset the religious status quo and cause unrest. Israeli authorities have both political issues in mind, since the archaeologist is Jewish and the traditions of hostile Jewish-Christian? relationships as well as Israel having to deal politically with the rest of the world. Needless to say, the Vatican takes a strong interest and sends a priest-scholar (who has a secret agent background, Antonio Banderas) on a mission to prove that the body is not that of Jesus. A priest who has lost his faith (Derek Jacobi) is tormented by the discovery and its consequences.
This gives the screenplay much opportunity to include dialogue about Jesus as a person, about his sufferings and death, about the meaning of the resurrection. Jesus does not appear at all – nor are the bones those of Jesus. They are ultimately recognised as the son of a prominent Jew who leaves an inscription, a prayer that his son will be received just as Jesus was. But, the film does raise old questions in a contemporary context which enables the audience to reflect on the body, the risen body and the consequences for faith.
1.A film of religious speculation? A thriller, a drama?
2.Christian belief about Jesus’ resurrection, audience knowledge of this? The discussions throughout the film about the issue of the resurrection, the empty tomb, the divinity of Jesus? The role of church authority? Whether finding a body in the tomb and identifying it as Jesus would undermine faith? Undermine the church?
3.The background of Da Vinci Code conspiracies? The role of the official church, the behaviour of officials, cardinals and clergy? Expectations, getting experts, investigations? The possibility of cover-up? The political dimensions of the church? Deals – with relationship to Israel and to the Palestinians?
4.Israel, Moshe Cohen and his role, intelligence? His stance? Collaboration, the deal about the recognition of a Palestinian state? The return of the bones? The issue of the Palestinians, around the year 2000? Terrorist acts, the getting of the bones, anti-Israeli activity? The final military attack on the Palestinians, the weaponry and their destruction?
5.The Israeli locations, the city of Jerusalem, the archaeological sites, outside Jerusalem and the countryside, the desert? The monastery? The Roman sequences, the Vatican? An authentic feel about such activity in Jerusalem and the interest of the Vatican? The musical score?
6.Sharon and her work, the wall, the hole in the wall, seeing the body, the skeletal remains? The data, her conclusions? Her background, her poet husband and his death in Lebanon, her children? Scientist? Agnostic?
7.Cohen, the results of the inquiry, Father Lavalle and his visit, his being an expert? Discussions with Sharon, his reactions? Sharon’s surprise that he was a priest? The effect of the discovery on him, his report, the Vatican and their concern, his meeting with Father Gutierez, their discussions in his room, his being anxious and nervous, his being sequestered from the press? Issues of faith, his becoming nervy and his mania about apocalyptic days, the discussions, his killing himself?
8.Moshe Cohen, the intelligence agencies, his officers guarding the site, the diplomacy issues, the clash with the Palestinians? His taking Matt Gutierez and Sharon to visit the conservative Jews, after their demonstration at the tomb, their beliefs in not disturbing the dead?
9.The Palestinians, the man with his shop, the excavations for his basement? The Palestinian leader and his orders, the phone calls, the threats, the demand for information? The shopkeeper and his discussions with Sharon, with Matt Gutierez, the abduction of Sharon’s children, the car, the attack and his being shot? The reaction of the leader, his plans, the confrontation with Israel? Matt Gutierez and his coming to the rescue, the confrontation with the leader, the shooting, the helicopter?
10.The Vatican, the cardinal, his plans, choice of Matt Gutierez, the reasons, the later reflection on these, Matt reacting that he had been chosen as a puppet to do the cardinal’s will? The cardinal and his worldly attitudes, protecting the church, politics? His shock at the end and Matt’s reaction?
11.Matt Gutierez, his intelligence work, seeing action in combat, his wounds, his skill at diplomacy? The cardinal and quoting him about his prayer and spirituality? Going to Israel, his presuppositions? Meeting Sharon, upset at her driving? Meeting Father Lavalle, meeting Cohen? His work with Father Winsted, the Irish background, eccentric, computers, and codes?
12.The examination of the body, the clashes with Sharon, their discussions, information, speculation, the stealing of the jar, Cohen and his influence in getting it back? The discussion with the conservative men and the rabbi? The returning of the jar? The importance of the inscription, Walter Winsted and his final decoding it? The Palestinians and their stealing the lamp?
13.The terrorist activity, the attack, the deaths, Sharon and her upset? Matt and his injuries? Going home, Sharon helping him? Their discussions about his faith, his vocation?
14.The London expert, his examining the body? The local expert, comparing the relics, 32AD? The thought that the body was not that of Jesus – and Matt’s disappointment?
15.The Vatican, the monsignor coming and urging him to return? The news of Sharon’s children’s abduction, his going into action?
16.Walter Winsted, discovering that the inscription was a prayer, the revelation that the body was not that of Jesus but of a Jewish lad, the prayer from his father?
17.The ecclesiastical speculation – what if the body were that of Jesus…?
