With such perfection at every moment of this film, I failed to understand why Jesus was portrayed with blue eyes which were rarely smiling. Perhaps it sets him apart from all the other characters and as we know blue eyes can be exceedingly piercing and hypnotic. The director uses this to great effect in the many facial close-ups.
The film starts quietly as the story unfolds clearly following the gospels of the new testament. Suddenly we meet shaggy-haired John the Baptist knee deep in the River Jordan inviting sinners to repent and be saved. Michael York really gets inside the character with his incredible religious fanaticism. He lifts the drama to a new plane and the scenes that follow gather in strength and have great dramatic appeal.
I admire a director who can control such crowd scenes of which there are many in the film. The garb worn looks authentic as do the beards and the settings are beyond reproach both inside and out. Artistically a real masterpiece.
Despite the severity of the crucifixions, Zeferelli avoids over-indulgence in bloody close-ups. Jesus while hanging on the Cross does not get speared in the side. Nonetheless his few words "It is finished" and his limp body as it is carried away for burial says it all.
Not all his miracles are shown, but those that are could form the basis of hours of argument. In the "Loaves and fishes scene" the fish miraculously multiplied in the baskets and the followers quickly sank their teeth into the raw unscaled fish. Much was made of the miracles where people were brought back to life after death. Perhaps Jesus was indicating that with faith this was possible and was paving the way for an understanding of his own resurrection later.
Of great interest is the casting of the film. So many great actors were recruited. I guess everyone likes to be part of a successful production.
The film starts quietly as the story unfolds clearly following the gospels of the new testament. Suddenly we meet shaggy-haired John the Baptist knee deep in the River Jordan inviting sinners to repent and be saved. Michael York really gets inside the character with his incredible religious fanaticism. He lifts the drama to a new plane and the scenes that follow gather in strength and have great dramatic appeal.
I admire a director who can control such crowd scenes of which there are many in the film. The garb worn looks authentic as do the beards and the settings are beyond reproach both inside and out. Artistically a real masterpiece.
Despite the severity of the crucifixions, Zeferelli avoids over-indulgence in bloody close-ups. Jesus while hanging on the Cross does not get speared in the side. Nonetheless his few words "It is finished" and his limp body as it is carried away for burial says it all.
Not all his miracles are shown, but those that are could form the basis of hours of argument. In the "Loaves and fishes scene" the fish miraculously multiplied in the baskets and the followers quickly sank their teeth into the raw unscaled fish. Much was made of the miracles where people were brought back to life after death. Perhaps Jesus was indicating that with faith this was possible and was paving the way for an understanding of his own resurrection later.
Of great interest is the casting of the film. So many great actors were recruited. I guess everyone likes to be part of a successful production.