JESUS

US, 1999, 176 minutes, Colour.
Jeremy Sisto, Debra Messing, Amin Mueller -Stahl, Jacqueline Bisset, Gary Oldman, David O’ Hara, Claudio Amendola, G.W. Bailey, Luca Barbareschi, Luca Zingaretti, Christian Kohlund, Elena Sofia Ricci, Stefania Rocca, Gabriella Pession, Maria Christina Heller.
Directed by Roger Young.

At first, Jesus (directed for American television by Roger Young) might seem like a throwback to the 1960s, another attempt at 'realism'. However, it benefits from the influence of the stylised images of Jesus during the 1970s. This is immediately evident as the film opens with contemporary battle scenes which startle the viewer. In fact, it is a dream (or vision) that Jesus has, a kind of recurring dream that takes him into the future, showing the sin and evil of the centuries for which he must sacrifice his life. The most striking use of this stylisation is in the sequence of the temptations in the desert. Jeroen Krabbe plays Satan dressed in a suit and, again, offering Jesus tempting modern visions of power that resonate with a contemporary audience. This is repeated in greater detail during the agony in the garden sequence. It is an attempt to make the Jesus' story relevant. This is the final message of the film as Jesus emerges from the upper room into the 21st century, dressed in ordinary casual clothes, greeting children.

The other feature of Jesus is his humanity. Jeremy Sisto plays Jesus as a genial man, prone to emotions including anger, but someone who is able to joke, to laugh heartily (and splash his companions at the fountain), to dance at the wedding feast of Cana and to be good company as well as a charismatic leader. This is a breakthrough from presentations of Jesus which seem afraid to let him be seen smiling, let alone laughing. This film works on the premise that Jesus is consciously aware of his divinity, so the screenplay's ability to combine humanity with divinity should please theologians.

The television style, with plenty of close-ups of Jesus. Sisto adopts a quiet tone, almost underplayed at times, as in the scene where he is left alone with the woman taken in adultery. While the passion narratives are dealt with in a familiar way, the end of the film with the risen Jesus going out to our world makes quite an impact.

The screenplay also gives a great deal of time to the Roman background of the times with Pontius Pilate (Gary Oldman) centre screen along with G.W. Bailey as a smiling but sinister courtier and adviser. He provides a great deal of background information.

1.The impact of the film? The presentation of the Gospel stories – making them credible for contemporary audiences? The contemporary audience of 1999 moving into the 21st century and the millennium?

2.The location photography, Morocco standing in for Israel, the desert, the towns, Jerusalem, the temple? The musical score?

3.The international cast? How persuasive was Jeremy Sisto as Jesus? Younger than Jesus’ thirty-three? His appearance, clothes and hair? His manner? Quiet way of speaking? Humour and fooling around? Seriousness? In communion in prayer with his Father? The American cast with the American accents? The British members of the cast? The Scottish John the Baptist in David O’ Hara? The accented Amin Mueller- Stahl as Joseph? The Italian and European cast? Credible?

4.The presentation of the Gospels, drawing on all the Gospels? Creative writing of background texts? Explanations? The introduction of Livio to give information about the Roman empire, about Judea, advising Pilate how to deal with the Jews?

5.The modern touches? The opening with the rider, the battles? The temptations in the desert and the contemporary sequences? The finale and Jesus waling out into the modern world, his ordinary clothes, his being with the children, smiling? A Jesus still in the world?

6.The opening, the rider, the Crusades, World War One and the trenches, the calling out of Jesus’ name? The transition to Jesus’ face, upside down, righting itself? Jesus with Joseph in the desert?

7.The Roman legions, Pontius Pilate, his arrogance, arrival in Jerusalem? The encounter with Livio, Livio and his sardonic humour? Giving advice? That Palestine was full of Jews and that this was a difficulty? His claiming to give information as well as spying?

8.Mary, Jacqueline Bisset’s performance? Her dignity? At the well? Jesus and Joseph looking for work in Jerusalem? The discussions with the man who was losing his almond trees? The introduction of religious themes and the man despairing and asking where was God?

9.The court of Herod Antipas, Herodius and Salome and their presence? Pilate’s arrival, his insulting Herod the Great? Pilate as a strong and demanding character? In the temple, Livio avoiding explanations and wanting to see the results? Livio explaining Caiaphas, taxes? Pilate posting soldiers in the temple? The demands of Rome? Caiaphas and everybody lying face-down in protest? Pilate leaving?

10.Jesus and his friendship with Lazarus, Martha and Mary? Mary and her tenderness towards Jesus, in love with him? The comment about her having a broken heart? Issues of matchmaking and Martha? Joseph discussing the Romans with Lazarus? Their enjoying a meal? Jesus and the issue of his not marrying, his mission? Mary and her disappointment?

11.The tax collectors, Matthew and the confrontation with Mary? Joseph’s anger? The discussion with Jesus about how he could end the suffering of people? Joseph wanting a sign? The advice that Jesus must do what his heart tells him? Joseph’s collapse, his death? Mary’s grief? His funeral? Jesus at prayer after Joseph’s death? The first sequence of his union with God, the prayer to the Father? Jesus alone? His asking for Joseph to rise again, his talking about his own emotional needs? Continuing to be upset? Jesus feeling that the disappointed Joseph? The insertion of the flashbacks to the Annunciation, Joseph and his attitude towards Mary? His amazement, “God found you of all women”? Joseph as affable but stern? The relationship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus and Jesus telling them the news of Joseph’s death?

12.John the Baptist, his Celtic accent? The quote from Isaiah? The people coming to the Jordan? Jesus meeting John at the campfire, the familiarity and jokes? The flashback to the finding in the temple – and seeing the crucified criminals on the hill as they left Jerusalem? Jesus asking for baptism? The over-literalism of the voice coming from Heaven? The light around the Baptist? His sense of vocation and Jesus’ sense of vocation?

13.The temptations in the desert – strikingly different from other presentations? The scarlet woman and her appearance, issues of human nature, the expansion of the literal text of the Gospels? The invitation to Jesus to empty himself of his divinity, of the Father? Jesus and his primal scream? The woman welcoming him to life? The Satan in the contemporary suit, Jesus hungry, dusty? Satan’s emphasis on power? The visuals of the starving and the modern era? Satan saying that they died of hunger and Jesus replying it was because of the hardness of heart of people and not because God wanted it? The issues of bread and truth? The temptation of how to get people to listen? The special effects of the columns rising in the desert, the temple? Satan urging Jesus to make people notice him, falling and being saved? Jesus’ reply of not testing God for one’s own purposes? The transition from the present to the cosmos and the galaxies? Universal power? Not being second in command but number one? Satan’s arrogance in asking Jesus to bow down to him? Jesus’ reply that he was the poorest, was the lamb of God?

14.Andrew and John, their being at the Jordan with the Baptist, their discussion about Jesus, Jesus asking what they wanted and inviting them to come and see? Jesus eating, sleeping, the bare essentials at his home in Nazareth? Mary offering him the gifts from the Magi – and the flashbacks?

15.Jesus and his colloquial way of speaking, “Let’s go”? To Cana, the criticisms about him dancing, Andrew wanting him to be spiritual and on mission all the time? Andrew not dancing? Jesus saying he was sorry if he disappointed him? Mary and Jesus, the discussion about his time, his trying to put his mother off? Mary insistent? The episode as interpreting John’s text about letting his glory be seen and the disciples believing in him? The Abundant One?

16.John the Baptist, the encounter with Herod, running and shouting behind the coach, Herodius and Salome listening to him, Salome flirtatious, Herodius and her hostility? John’s imprisonment and his execution?

17.Jesus at the Sea of Galilee, playing and skimming the stones? Chasing and swinging the children? The tax gatherer, the Zealots and the political issues of the time? The fight, Jesus confronting them? Everybody running from the Zealots? The confrontation with Barabbas, the Roman? Barabbas cruelly cutting the throat of the Roman? Jesus’ confrontation, the hitting him on the face, his inviting Barabbas to strike him again? His statement that violence would finish when people learnt to love? The dead Roman, Jesus’ grief? Judas and his disgust, puzzle? Jesus’ invitation to Judas to follow him – “I am the Way”? The confrontation with Matthew, going to his home, Peter’s complaint? Matthew confessing to his stealing?

18.Mary Magdalene, at work with her client, looking out the window, Jesus entering the town? Jesus and his companions in the town, the man clapping his hands and dancing, making Andrew dance, the water and Jesus splashing the disciples? The woman taken in adultery, being taken to Caiaphas, Caiaphas and his shrewdness, getting his assistant to test Jesus? Interrupting Jesus’ teaching? The sand, Caiaphas watching? Mary Magdalene watching? The dialogue with the woman, the low-key way Jesus spoke? Touching her and helping her up, her going free? Mary Magdalene’s puzzle, the invitation to follow, saying she wanted to be free, Jesus replying, “No, you’re not,” saying that the woman that he let go was worth something, “So are you”?

19.The transition to the cleansing of the temple, the spectacle of the buyers and sellers, Jesus and his anger, the whips, overturning the tables? The confrontation with Caiaphas? The issue of the coin, tribute to Rome, and the image of Caesar on the coin?

20.Livio performing before Pilate and his group, theatre, masks, make-up? The temple, the mime of the buzzing pilgrims, the animals? The money-changers? The breaking wind as Jesus is lowered down? Pilate laughing, the jeering? Jesus’ speech, the heckling? The rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s? Pilate puzzled, asking Livio for the definition of Messiah?

21.Jesus sitting, mourning John the Baptist, alone? The apostles arguing? Jesus and the crowd, the crowd appearing? Asking have I anything to say? The five thousand sitting, Jesus and the Beatitudes, the jokes, the hecklers, Jesus laughing? The rich owning the world – they actually do, but what can they do with all that money? The dialogue about mercy, love, the law? The comment from the woman about the womb that bore Jesus – and Mary’s reaction?

22.Mary and Mary Magdalene, Mary Magdalene offering the apology, Mary noting it? Mary Magdalene saying she was a prostitute? Mary saying she did not judge – but that she had been judged herself? Magdalene being afraid of a man and amazed at this? Mary offering the Magdalene to go for a walk?

23.The Sea of Galilee, Jesus picking the twelve, their pleasure, running to his side? Jesus laughing with James and John as sons of thunder? The ripple through the crowd at Matthew’s choice? Giving them authority, healing, casting out demons, taking nothing? The group hug? Going to the other side because he needed a rest? Jesus soaking his feet? The storm, the apostles bailing the water out, bickering, thinking Jesus was a ghost, his walking, calming the storm, inviting Peter to come, Peter sinking, asking to be saved, the comment about little faith – and Jesus putting his arm around Peter’s shoulder to take him back to the boat? Livio then giving a report about the feeding of the five thousand to Herod Antipas? The king’s fear that Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnate?

24.The sorrow of the Phoenician woman, the close-ups and face to face of the woman and Jesus, his raising her, touching her? Jesus learning to give the good news to the Gentiles, “If I can learn, so can you” to the squabbling disciples?

25.Mary introducing Mary Magdalene to Jesus, her explanation that she was a prostitute, Jesus saying that she was, once, long ago? Mary saying that his father would be proud of him – which one? Both!

26.Judas, bringing the thirty pieces of silver, Jesus upset, urging him to give it away, to give it to the poor, Judas upset, the Magdalene looking, Judas throwing it into the water to the beggars?

27.Jesus and his playing chasings …? The messenger about Lazarus’s illness, telling him to go ahead, the puzzle about his not going, Judas criticising him, healing strangers but not his friends? Walking with Mary Magdalene, the trees, talking about Joseph recognising the wood, her asking whether he was a good carpenter and his saying he was lucky he took up preaching? Magdalene not questioning Jesus: if I were a man, I would be your strongest disciple? Those who speak for me are my disciples?

28.Going to Bethany, the embrace with Mary, not to Martha? The reverse of the dialogue from the Gospel texts of St John? Jesus’ grief, going to the grave, removing the stone, the people shielding themselves from the smell, Jesus’ prayer? Unbind him – and Lazarus and the people amazed?

29.Caiaphas, the witness to the raising, saying that he smelt the body but Lazarus was alive? Caiaphas and his rational explanation? Reports and gossip? His saying that no-one could defeat death? That there were many false messiahs?

30.Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the palms, the donkey? The Zealots talking to Jesus? The call for the revolution? Herod and his being angry, Livio and his placating him? Pilate watching the gladiators – and Livio’s advice to arrest Jesus at night?

31.The upper room, Mary and Mary Magdalene, Judas and his discussion about Rome and the Zealots? Jesus saying that he would die in two days? He would die for the tyranny of sin, not the tyranny of the Romans? Judas seeing this as a betrayal? Jesus talking with his mother, saying that he was born to die? Peter and his protests, Judas leaving? Mary asking why this had to happen, how it would happen? Jesus saying that he had to give everything, nothing held back so that everybody would know?

32.The fight in the temple? The soldiers coming in, killing, the blood on the pavement? Caiaphas and his assistant? Better that one could die for the whole nation? Caiaphas going to Pilate and the plot?

33.The Last Supper, the da Vinci-style seating, the reverent treatment of the bread and wine? Looking at Judas, his going? Judas going to the corridors to find the assistant to the high priest? Judas’s declaration?

34.Jesus and the apostles walking to the garden, Jesus telling Peter he would deny him three times? Taking Peter, James and John as well as Andrew into the garden? Jesus’ explanation, facing his agony as a man, urging them to stay awake, falling on his face? The disciples chattering about their own safety? Judas and the kiss? Jesus saying that he was afraid he could not endure the agony? The Satan arrival, the final act, no reprieve from the Father? Satan laughing at God’s will? Talking about the Passion, the Crucifixion, Jesus had seen it but not felt it, Satan’s explanation of the slow suffocation, the agony of the nails? Jesus saying that it would not be in vain? That through him God would reveal his love for the human race? Satan’s retort that God was unseeing and heartless? The images of the Crusades, big business through the centuries? The witch-hunts and another reason to torture and kill in Jesus’ name? And Satan remarking that the witch was innocent? World War One and Jesus and Satan walking through the town, through the gunfire? Satan tempting Jesus to make Earth a paradise, end poverty and war? Asking what kind of God permitted this? Jesus’ answer about choice, free will, God not a dictator? Satan retorting that this is what people choose? The issue of Jesus dying in vain and alone? Jesus saying he would be with the Father, and that those who want to will find in him the strength to love to the end?

35.The betrayal with a kiss, night, Jesus captured, Peter watching, the denials? At the court of Caiaphas, Jesus in the spotlight, his being pushed over, the accusations by Jared? Jesus passing Peter and the cock crowing, looking? Mary Magdalene watching and going to Mary?

36.Pilate being shaved, Caiaphas’s visit, the death sentence required from Pilate? Pilate and Jesus alone, the dialogue from John’s Gospel about being a king? Pilate’s retort, “Really …, What is the truth?” Pilate saying he had no case and sending Jesus to Herod? Herod and his wanting to be King of the Jews, Herodius and her fastidiousness, especially when Jesus had touched lepers? Herod wanting a sign? Saying that Jesus was a mute king and mocking him, saying to Livio he was a charlatan? The release of Barabbas, Barabbas and his previous encounter with Jesus, his comment about the revolution? The scourging on the steps of the Praetorium, the pain in Jesus’ face? The people in a mood for rioting? Judas seeing this and Jesus coming out bloodstained and scourged? Pilate washing his hands and ordering the crucifixion?

37.The Way of the Cross, Mary, John and Mary Magdalene? Judas meeting Peter, Peter throttling him, Judas saying he was willing to die for the revolution, that Jesus would make it happen, would find his anger and rouse up the people but they turned against him? Peter angry but ashamed? The nails, in Jesus’ wrist, his screams, Mary watching? The rope pulling up the cross? Jesus asking his father’s forgiveness? Livio saying, “We know exactly what we’re doing, Messiah. We’re killing you.” Jesus’ screams, the clouds and the wind, the musical score, the wind in the temple and people falling? Jesus’ scream, feeling forsaken – then quietly, “Into your hands …”? The earthquake, the aqueduct breaking, Judas hanging himself in the rain?

38.Jesus taken down from the cross, Lloyd- Weber’s Requiem in choral presentation, the long Pieta sequence, carrying the body, Mary lifting the cover from Jesus’ face and washing the blood? The rolling of the stone?

39.Mary Magdalene, the stone rolled away, running, the apostles sleeping, thinking that the body was stolen, Peter and John running? The language of resurrection? Mary at the tomb, seeing Jesus, embracing him, Jesus saying that she must let him go? Mary Magdalene telling the others? Telling Jesus’ mother? Thomas expressing the doubts, saying that his mind would not let him believe, having to see for himself? Jesus’ appearance, relating to Mary, to Thomas? Saying that he would be with everyone always?

40.Jesus going out the door, into the modern world, his haircut, modern clothes, shirt out, the children running to him, embracing and carrying them, joyfully running – and the contemporary song?

41.What was the audience left with after this three-hour experience of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?