JOSEPH

US/Italy, 1995, 178 minutes, Colour.
Ben Kingsley, Paul Mercurio, Martin Landau, Lesley Ann Warren, Alice Krige, Dominique Sanda, Warren Clarke, Monica Bellucci, Stefano Dionisi.
Directed by Roger Young.

Joseph is one of the series of telemovies made as Italian/American co-productions in the 1990s and into the 21st century. Roger Young also directed Moses as well as the excellent Jesus film with Jeremy Sisto (1999). Prolific television director, he also made the original Bourne Identity with Richard Chamberlain as well as such films as Gulag.

Ben Kingsley (who is also Moses in the film) is Potiphar and Lesley Ann Warren his wife. The surprise casting of Paul Mercurio, after Strictly Ballroom, is as Joseph. Unfortunately, he does not have a resonant voice to match his screen presence. Martin Landau is Jacob, Alice Krige is Rachel, Dominique Sanda is Leah. A young Monica Bellucci is Pharaoh’s wife and Stefano Dionisi is Pharaoh.

The film covers the material from the book of Genesis – familiar to those who have done biblical studies. The story of Jacob is familiar, his favouritism of Joseph, the coat, Joseph sold into slavery, his experiences in prison in Egypt, Potiphar and Potiphar’s wife, becoming Pharaoh and leading Egypt – to the final reconciliation with his family.

Audiences may be familiar with Joseph’s story because of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and his Technicolour Dream Coat.

1.The impact of this film for television? The biblical story, the treatment? International co-production?

2.The settings, the re-creation of Israel, the family of Jacob, their lifestyle? The contrast with Egypt, the city, the kingdom, affluent homes, prison, Pharaoh’s court? The musical score?

3.The selection of Incidents from the book of Genesis? The priorities for dramatic interpretation? The structure with the flashbacks from Joseph’s point of view?

4.Audiences learning about Joseph, about the experiences of Israel, of the God of Jacob? Learning by entertainment?

5.The presentation of Joseph himself, Paul Mercurio in the role? His place in the family? Jacob, the brothers, Jacob’s wives? Rachel and her favouritism of Joseph? Leah and her disdain? The brothers, Joseph and his dreams, his imprudence in telling them the stories? The visualising of the dreams? The wheat worshipping him? The brothers’ reaction, putting him down the well, his being sold into Egypt, the market?

6.The portrait of Jacob, the patriarch, his family, his wives, children? The way of life in Canaan? His grief over Joseph’s disappearance, the issue of Tamar and the rape? His favouring Benjamin?

7.Joseph in Egypt, his being bought by Potiphar? Potiphar as a character, choosing Joseph, his way of life, importance? Wealth? Potiphar’s wife, his relationship with her, Potiphar’s wife and her jealousy, the attraction to Joseph, the attempted seduction, the attack, the lies, Joseph being put in prison?

8.Joseph as a slave, in prison, his fellow prisoners? The interpretation of their dreams?

9.Prison life, the two other prisoners, their fates? Pharaoh and the interpretation of dreams?

10.The character of Pharaoh, leadership in Egypt, relationship with his wife? The kingdom? His dreams and wanting interpretation?

11.Joseph, the successful interpretation, his being released, advice, coming to power, his wife? The seven years of plenty and his prudence in saving? His wisdom?

12.The years of famine, Joseph and his having stores? The brothers in Canaan, experiencing the famine? Their journey to Egypt, their request, Joseph’s reaction? His disguise? The issue of Benjamin, concealing the cup, the arrest? The reaction of the brothers? His final revelation of who he was? Their reaction?

13.Jacob, his joy in coming down to Egypt, the finding of Joseph again?

14.The representation of the Genesis stories? How literally to be interpreted? As sagas? The religious interpretation? The contribution to the history and theology of Israel?