MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS

US, 1999, 88 minutes, Colour.
Christian Bale, Pernilla August, Melinda Kinnaman, David Threlfall, Simone Bendix, John Shrapnel, Edward Hardwicke, Hywell Bennett, Geraldine Chaplin, Toby Bailiff.
Directed by Kevin Connor.

Mary, Mother of Jesus is a telemovie prepared for the celebration of the millennium. It is something of a companion film to Jesus with Jeremy Sisto, directed by Roger Young.

This brief film was directed by Kevin Connor, best known for action adventures (The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot).

Danish actress Pernilla August (mother of Anakin in The Phantom Menace and star of many Scandinavian films) is a dignified Mary. Swedish Melinda Kinnaman portrays the young Mary. She is presented as a strong young woman, initially seen standing her ground in Nazareth against the Roman centurion, with her parents, experiencing the Annunciation, going to Elizabeth (Geraldine Chaplin) to visit, returning, experiencing the suspicions of Joseph (David Threlfall), going with him for the census, giving birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. The shepherds appear, so do the Magi after an encounter with Herod (Hywell Bennett).

The film shows the Flight into Egypt and Jesus returning to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph at age twelve. There is the sequence of the finding in the temple. However, there is inventiveness back in Nazareth where Jesus is not popular with local kids and they fight him. He does not retaliate – earlier we had heard him asking about the law of an eye for an eye. Mary tells him such stories as the Good Samaritan – which he says he can later use in his own ministry.

The adult Jesus is a good carpenter, friendly with his customers, allowing them to pay when they can. However, Joseph dies, praising Jesus and telling Mary that he was all that she had made him.

Jesus goes to the Jordan, accompanied by Mary, and is baptised. After his time in the desert, he returns with the disciples.

The sequences in the film are those where Mary appears with Joseph in the Gospels. These include the familiar Cana story – where Mary and Jesus eventually join in the dancing. There is the scene where his mother wants him and he declares that his disciples are his family. Mary does not take this amiss, as one of the disciples does. At the beginning of the Passion, Jesus talks with Mary about the journey they have been travelling. Mary appears only on the way to Calvary and at the foot of the cross where she is entrusted to John’s care.

However, Christian Bale, quiet throughout most of the film, gives an intense performance as he carries the cross-beam to Golgotha.

The film ends conventionally enough with Jesus uttering his final words, being taken down from the cross and caressed by his mother. The Resurrection is very brief – with Jesus ultimately appearing to Mary and disappearing from sight.

The film tends to be more of a pious presentation, devout, of the character of Mary – who is much stronger and forthright than might have been expected.

1.The impact and quality of the telemovie? Prepared for the millennium?

2.The television style, straightforward storytelling, popular storytelling, devotional aspects, invented narratives, especially for Jesus’ years at Nazareth? The theological perspective on Mary and her relationship with Jesus? The presentation of Jesus himself? In harmony with the Gospels?

3.The strength of the narrative, the initial disclaimer about the film being exactly representation of the Gospel, but rather an accurate interpretation?

4.The use of the Gospel text – especially for Mary’s experiences? The stilted use of Gospel as screenplay? The freer dialogue, the invented narratives bringing characters and events more alive?

5.The cast, their strengths? The variety of accents? The location photography, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the desert? The musical score?

6.The strong representation of Mary, a feisty character, her manner, assertive, loving, fearless? Mary as mother?

7.Mary in Nazareth, her age, experience, the confrontation with the Romans, the rebel, his being taken by the soldiers, Mary standing her ground, the centurion accepting what she said? Her saving the old woman from the oncoming Romans? Her relationship with her parents? Joseph and his care? The experience of the Annunciation – on the roadside, experiencing Gabriel? The use of the Gospel text? Her religious background, the frequency of claims of Messiah and therefore her not being entirely surprised? Going to Elizabeth, the friendship with Elizabeth, their discussions, Elizabeth’s pregnancy? Returning to her family, her pregnancy, her seeing the woman stoned for committing adultery? The encounter with Joseph, the awareness of people’s criticism? Joseph and his dream? His accepting Mary?

8.The effect of the pregnancy, Joseph and the dream, the gossip? The decision to go to Bethlehem?

9.The Romans, the decree for the census, travel, the inn, it being full, the landlady offering them the stable, the quiet birth of Jesus, the landlady fussing, the arrival of the shepherds, the kings?

10.Herod, his ambitions, fears? The encounter with the Magi? Their not returning? Herod and the ordering of the Slaughter of the Innocents? The drama and violence of the innocents? The landlady helping them to escape? Mary strong and decisive?

11.The years in Egypt, the long time, the return? Jesus and his asking about eye for an eye? Meeting her mother again? The town, the people? Jesus going to Jerusalem, his being lost, Mary and Joseph and their anxiety, seeing him in the temple, talking, Zachary praising his wisdom?

12.Jesus as carpenter, his skills, kindness to customers? Joseph dying? Elizabeth coming for Joseph’s death? The decision to go to the Jordan, the discussions with Mary, the baptism, his disciples? His decision to go away for the forty days? Seeking God’s guidance, having heard God’s voice?

13.Cana, the familiar details of the story, the guests, the happiness of the wedding? Mary, noticing the situation with the wine? Her looking to Jesus, his words? His doing what his mother wanted? The servants, filling the vessels with wine? The tasting? The comment about women and leadership – because they raised the sons? The dancing at the wedding feast?

14.The return to Nazareth, his reading the scroll, the Bread of Life? The hostility of the people?

15.His preaching, his mission? Mary wanting to see him, the fact that his disciples were family? The disciple taking this amiss? Mary’s interpretation, Jesus coming to embrace her?

16.The presentation of the Passion, riding the donkey, talking with his mother about their journey? Before Pilate, tortured, the crown of thorns? Carrying the cross-beam, the nailing? Jesus entrusting his mother to John? The last words on the cross, his being taken down, embraced by his mother?

17.The Resurrection narratives, their brevity, Mary Magdalene – and her being at the Jordan, fascinated by Jesus, her conversion experience, becoming friendly with Mary, their being at the foot of the cross, her seeing Jesus risen? Mary seeing her son, standing on the roof, glorified, disappearing?

18.How interesting and different a portrait of Mary?