JUDAS

US, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Johnathon Schaech, Jonathan Scarfe.
Directed by Charles Robert Carner.

Originally titled, Judas and Jesus, this film focuses on Judas himself with Jesus a significant presence but in more of a supporting role. It was made by a Catholic television company managed by the Paulist congregation who had made the Insight series for television and films such as The Fourth Wise Man and Romero. It was written by Tom Fontana, one of the creators of Homicide: Life on the Streets and Oz. Paramount television did not screen it when it was ready for release in 2001 but did broadcast it in early 2004 in the wake of the success of The Passion of the Christ.

Johnathon Schaech gives quite an impressive performance as Judas, the angry zealot who believes that Jesus is the man to lead the Jews to revolution against the Romans, but who cannot quite commit himself as a disciple, who betrays Jesus and kills himself, feeling betrayed by Jesus.

On the other hand, television actor Jonathan Scarfe, is a smiling, 'modern' Jesus, a kind of Californian surfie Jesus who does not always come across as a sufficiently strong and powerful presence, able to command commitment or loyalty from his followers. The producers were right in taking Jesus' name out of the title and focusing on Judas.

While the prevailing American accents (especially with Jesus and Pileate and, to a lesser extent with Judas and Caiaphas) would not cause problems for American audiences, they do for non-Americans. Mary, however, and most of the Apostles have British accents. The American accent sounds too contemporary for a story set in a particular historical period. This is compounded by the use of many contemporary American idioms which are understood but not used by non-Americans. This makes the film sound anachronistic rather than relevant. Pilate says that he hopes Jesus ‘will stay out of town’. There are such phrases as ‘I’ll pass’, “I figure’, ‘What d’ya say?’, ‘…, right?’ and Herod (British accent) says of John the Baptist, ‘what a pain in the arse’.

Be that as it may, Johnathon Scarfe is strong enough and many of the re-creation of Gospel scenes are powerful enough to offer some insights into the Gospel story.

Judas is presented as the son of a crucified zealot (in a field of many crucified zealots), embittered while still a boy, growing up resentful of the Romans, looking for a Messiah who will not ‘roll over’ to the Romans. He has become a wine seller – though his mother says he was born for better, a visionary like his father. He does not mince words about the priests handing over money to the soldiers for extra taxes for Pilate. When he hears of John the Baptist, he goes to the Jordan where John assures him he is not the Messiah. His first glimpse (and the audience’s) is of an angry and yelling Jesus overthrowing the buyers and sellers in the Temple. Judas is impressed and invites him to a meal where Jesus is sorry, saying that no one is changed by yelling or anger or being deprived of their livelihood. When the disciples arrive, Judas says that they should not be treated like peasants. We are peasants, says Jesus.

There follows a love-suspicion-hate relationship on the part of Judas for Jesus. When he is mugged in the streets of Jerusalem and his house raided, he escapes to Galilee where he is welcomed by Jesus, although the other disciples are aware of his dark side and wish that Jesus would send him away. However, Jesus likes Judas – ‘ I wish you could see in yourself what I see’. The screenplay gives Jesus the opportunity to preach to small groups the gist of the sermon on the mount which Judas criticises. Judas, now in charge of finances (Jesus saying he is no good at this), suggests that they charge for cures, something which Jesus abhors. His trust is in people’s generosity and the thought of the lilies of the field. When Judas persuades Jesus to give the apostles his powers to heal, Judas interprets this as raising an army. And Judas fails to heal while the simple James succeeds by opening his heart and praying the Our Father.

Jesus is grieved by the news about the arrest of John the Baptist. There is an interesting scene where Judas asks Mary in her kitchen about Jesus’ father and finds her account of the annunciation hard to accept.

Caiaphas, a strong figure in the film, has kept in touch with Judas, asks him to spy on Jesus, suggesting that the powers that be would support Jesus as long as he led no protests or demonstrations. After Jesus raises Lazarus and singles out Peter as leader, Judas becomes more disillusioned, thinks that Jesus is ‘lame’ because of his melancholy. Caiaphas tells him that one man’s betrayal is another man’s salvation.

The rest of the film, apart from Judas’ mother dying and Caiaphas suggesting that Jesus could raise her – and giving the thirty pieces of silver for the funeral – goes according to the Gospels. Jesus celebrates the Last Supper, experiences the agony in the Garden. The Passion sequences are brief, Jesus spotlit in his appearances before Caiaphas and before Pilate. There is some melodrama as Pilate’s wife who up till now has been complicit in the plotting, especially about the staging of Barabbas’ release, has her nightmare and rushes to warn Pilate to free Jesus.

Jesus is nailed to the cross, lifted up, speaks some of his last words, also saying ‘this was my destiny’, and dies. The sky darkens, the soldiers run, Mary holds Jesus Pieta fashion and a choir sings an Agnus Dei. The film ends with its Judas focus as three apostles cut down Judas and take him away for burial. They pray for Judas: ‘this is what Jesus would have wanted’.

1.The film made for television? Beginning of the 21st century? In comparison with other Jesus films of the time? The Passion of the Christ? The initial title: Judas and Jesus? The decision to focus precisely on Judas?

2.The Moroccan locations, authentic feel, Galilee, for Jerusalem? Costumes and décor? Musical score?

3.American style, American accents? The American slang: ‘Yeah, I noticed?’ ‘Right?’ his mother’s urging? Caiaphas and the suspicions about Judas’ father and his death?

4.Caiphas? The priests, giving the soldiers money, buying and selling? Judas as a zealot, The statues? Judas as a wine-seller, his mother, urging him not to do this job, saying he was born for greatness, Judas and his customers, Caiaphas’s friend, smile? Judas seeing Caiaphas as a collaborator?

5.The Baptist, the Jordan, Judas asking the Baptist, about the Messiah, the Baptist? Baptism by water and fire and the spirit?

6.Judas mugged, fighting, the confrontation of Caiaphas, Judas seen as an agitator, Caiaphas explaining freedom of religion, urging him on but no protests or demonstrations, to protect the blessings that we do have? Caiaphas and Judas’ father as past antagonists?

7.The audience first seeing Jesus overturning the money tables, yelling? Excited? Judas inviting Jesus to a meal, their talk, pleasant, casual? Jesus saying that he couldn’t change things by yelling or being angry, by taking away people’s livelihood? The contrast with Judas as intense and not understanding? The apostles arriving? Judas complaining they were treated like peasants: Jesus saying that they were peasants?

8.Pilate, civil unrest, his relationship with his wife, his wife and her influence, planning with Caiaphas, ordering all agitators to be jailed, the raid on Judas’ house and his escaping to Galilee, to Caperneum?

9.Jesus and his teaching, the material from the Sermon on the Mount, his genial American-style personality, Jesus welcoming Judas, saying there was no magic but that God was in him? Judas asking for fire and Jesus inviting him to follow him, to be reborn, to sit by his side for eternity, for trust? The roof removed and the man brought down before Jesus, healed?

10.Judas talking to Mary in the kitchen, his plans, the issue of Jesus’ paternity, Mary recounting the Annunciation, at age sixteen? The news of the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus going to the garrison? Judas discussing the costs for the trips, the taxes and the possibility of charging for miracles? Jesus not wanting to go along with this? Jesus and the information about John, comforting his mother? Judas as a dark soul and the others wanting to send him away? Judas suggesting to Jesus that they get a rabbi to verify the miracles? Jesus cautious, saying he’s not good with money, not charging for cures, because he liked the freedom, the generosity of strangers, the Lilies of the Field? Jesus playful, the mock-fight, the bandits? His saying to Judas, “I wish you could see in yourself what I see”?

11.Pilate and the issue of Herod? Herod saying another demagogue will end up baying for the moon?

12.Matthew and the taxes, Jesus saying to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s? Inviting Matthew to join? Jesus on the people who would follow him, the Sermon on the Mount, Judas saying you can’t beat the Romans by turning the other cheek, Jesus speaking of love and spirituality? The arrival of the centurion, the centurion in the service of Pilate? Judas’ hostile reaction? Saying that he would leave unless Jesus did what he said? “How could you heal?” Jesus says, “How could I not?”

13.Caiaphas, one man’s betrayal is another man’s salvation, getting Judas to spy on Jesus, Caiaphas saying he would support Jesus as long as he did not attack traditional values? Jesus sad about John? Judas returning, listening, trying to persuade Jesus, talking of his powers – Jesus offering the powers in a blessing? The mission sermon, the enthusiasm, Judas interpreting Jesus simply as power and raising an army, trying to do the miracle, failing, James and his opening his heart, praying the Our Father and the miracle succeeding? Judas and the return, Mary Magdalene’s presence, the crowd cheering, the Beatitudes?

14.Judas persuading Jesus to go to Jerusalem? Judas saying that Jesus had learnt nothing, and vice-versa? In the desert, the entrusting of power to Peter, Judas upset, the knife in his hand, congratulating Peter? Judas saying that Jesus was lame because of his melancholy? The five thousand, the acclaim, Judas saying that Jesus was speaking in riddles?

15.The people, Jesus praying with the apostles, the Psalms, Judas going to see Caiaphas, the trap of the man with the withered hand, Jesus healing on the Sabbath? Lazarus, Judas warning Jesus about Caiaphas and Judea, Jesus replying about the faith and the mustard seed, Judas saying, “Damn you”; Jesus saying, “Damn us both”? The healing of Lazarus, Lazarus dazed, Judas watching from the cliff?

16.Pilate, wanting Jesus to stay away, anxious, the procession of palms, the spies, Caiaphas watching, Pilate at the bath and the information about Jesus, Claudia and her plans, Caiaphas feeling Pilate would blame him, the plan for the release of Barabbas?

17.Judas’ mother, the spies, Judas feeling betrayed, wanting revenge, Jesus and the possibility of raising his mother from the dead, the thirty pieces of silver for her funeral?

18.The Last Supper, the tables, Judas saying to Jesus, “Do you mean me, Jesus? The words are yours.”

19.Flavius, the healing of his servant, his resignation, the need for someone to recognise Jesus in Gethsemane, Judas to betray Jesus with the kiss, the Agony in the Garden, Judas’ arrival, the arrest, the disciple running away naked, Peter and the sword?

20.Caiaphas, the trial, the discussion about the forty-six years to build the temple? Jesus spot-lit, Pilate and Jesus spot-lit again, the discussion about kingship, the truth, Pilate saying no law had been broken? Sending him to Herod? Claudia and her dream, the melodrama in asking Pilate to free Jesus?

21.Jesus nailed to the cross, the cross being lifted up? Judas, the darkness, the soldiers running, Jesus’ last words, that this was his destiny? Judas hanging himself? The aria Agnus Dei, the rain? Mary holding Jesus in Pieta fashion?

22.Judas being cut down, the apostles going, praying for Judas – that this was what Jesus would have wanted?

23.A Gospel portrait of Jesus – with invention, fiction, the spirit of the Gospels?