The filming of a movie about Jesus’ death deeply affects three people — an egotistical director who cast himself as Christ, the actress playing Mary Magdalene who cannot bring herself to leave Bethlehem and a TV journalist whose spiritual doubts start to consume him.
Acting
Binoche's possessed stillness—she's barely in this world.
Direction
Ferrara's Catholic guilt finally ate a whole script.
Cinematography
Jerusalem and NYC bleed into sacred fever dream.
Director
Abel Ferrara
Juliette Binoche
Marie Palesi / Mary Magdalene
Forest Whitaker
Ted Younger
Matthew Modine
Tony Childress / Jesus
Marion Cotillard
Gretchen Mol
Stefania Rocca
Brenda Sax
Heather Graham
Elizabeth Younger
Marco Leonardi
Apostle Peter
Luca Lionello
Apostle Thomas
Ettore D'Alessandro
Apostle Andrew
Elio Germano
Matteo
Mario Opinato
Apostle James
Angelica Di Majo
Martha
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ferrara made this during his own sobriety and spiritual seeking, shooting in actual Jerusalem holy sites that rarely permit filming.
The film's Cannes controversy came from religious groups who hadn't seen it—Ferrara's point exactly.
US
