In 1st century BC Palestine, Joseph is a carpenter who wants to travel and see the world, but destiny makes him meet young Mary. The two fall in love and marry. One day, Mary becomes pregnant and tells Joseph an unbelievable truth... He decides to stay on her side, but things won't be easy.
Acting
Diego Abatantuono commits so hard to earnest Joseph it becomes art.
Costume
Biblical sandal era but make it aggressively 1993 Italian fashion.
Director
Giovanni Veronesi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Penélope Cruz was 19 and this was her first major international role before breaking into Hollywood. She learned Italian phonetically for the part.
This film exemplifies Italy's 1990s obsession with revisiting biblical narratives through working-class, masculine perspectives — think 'The Passion' but make it neorealism's chaotic cousin.
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