Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15668 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-09-23
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Black & White, PAL
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 5
Italian
Region 0
Dolby Digital Italian
Dolby Digital
Star And Director Filmographies
Scene Selection
Wally Hammond Film Notes
English

Synopsis
Christ's life is presented with respect for the traditional religious doctrine of the church, but Pasolini's trademark naturalism "humanizes" his subject and makes Him his own. The documentary-style camera captures Christ's meetings with the men who were to become his disciples, the Last Supper, and the betrayal by Judas. Note the rich music of Bach, Mozart, Prokofiev and Webern and Odetta's passionate singing. Academy Award Nominations: 3, including Best (Adapted) Score.

Customer Reviews

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS JESUS SON OF GOD
If ever I loved Jesus and I do, this one portrayal of him comes the nearest to the man (God) I follow.Hollywood has never done the portrayal of Jesus justice for me and the only film that has come close for me is Mel Gibsons " the Passion ". And that with reservations .( I have not yet seen Martin Scorcese 's The Last Temptation of Christ" ). None though of all the others whether mentioned here and including ones not discussed here are equal to this one and I was riveted throughout watching it.This film should be in every real christian's film library.It makes me feel like this potrayal of Jesus could be closer to the actual divine Jesus than any other one yet made. This film showing his courage,his endurance,his mercy,his compassion,his wisdom,his miracles moved me beyond words and the music throughout the film added yet more poignancy which easily avoided sentimentality.I thank God this film was made.

Tthe best film about Jesus ever made.
Pasolini was a gay,Marxist atheist who made the best film there is about Jesus and dedicated it to Pope John XXIII.The Almighty does indeed move in mysterious ways.
It was filmed in southern Italy with a mostly amateur cast,and the locations are great(the scenes where Jesus is tempted by Satan were filmed on the volcanic wastes of Mount Etna)-fans of Mel Gibson's "The Passion" will note that both films were shot in the same village.
The character of Jesus is played by an actor who is quite short in stature,though his eyes could probably burn a hole in steel.This emphasis on Jesus' humanity is the dominant theme in the film,even though it sets out to depict Matthew's Gospel word for word,including miracles.
Soundtrack is great,from "Missa Luba" to US blues and gospel.
Compared to Hollywood attempts at a film about Jesus,this is head and shoulders above them.The only other film about Jesus you should consider buying(or watching)is Scorcese's "Last Temptation Of Christ"-and that would probably never have been made without Pasolini's example and inspiration.

the power and the passion
This was the film that got me into film 40 years ago.I still vividly recall the effect it had on me all those years ago, and I named my firstborn Matthew in tribute. I am a faith-free person however, and had not seen the film since I was 16, until now. It retained all its power and passion, despite being monochrome and subtitled. The music is inspired, the acting always strong, and the direction unquestionably emotional, conjuring love and fear. For an atheist this has been a devotional experience, and a reminder of film as it should be, raw, brave, humane.