The Last temptation of Christ

Duration: 163 mi

Year Published: 1988

Creator: Kino International

Format: 16mm

Color: Color

Sound: sound

Description: Martin Scorsese struggled for fifteen years to translate the Kazantzakis novel into film, believing that its story had profound relevance to today's world. I had hoped it would be the kind of film that would engender very healthy discussions on the nature of God and man and how the Church should change to meet today's needs. The director's controversial film eschews the biblical spectacle in favor of the more intimate and incisive form, the psychodrama. The Jesus of this cinematic study is earthy, not ethereal, self-doubting rather than sublimely confident. When he preaches the Sermon on the Mount, it is delivered with caution to a small and sceptical gathering. In the film's most challenged sequence, Christ is rescued from crucified martyrdom by a guardian angel and permitted to live in domestic tranquility with Mary Magdalene. Berated by Judas for abandoning his heavenly calling, however, Christ returns to the cross and destiny. (Does not circulate).