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Home > The 3 Stooges
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Film Review - The Nativity Story by Rianne Soriano
Retelling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, 'The Nativity Story' renders a simple and straightforward cinematic work that mainly humanizes the characters of Mary, Joseph, and their families and associations. The film is solemnly predictable, and it keeps up to the essence of the Christian tale about the great joy and hope for the coming of the Messiah.
'The Nativity Story' focuses on the period when Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Adding layer to the human characters of Mary and Joseph, they are clearly shown as real people. The story puts a heart in the condition of the recognizable teenager Mary who faces the mundane problem of being an unwed pregnant teen. Her parents are completely worried about her getting stoned. It may be a very common premise overall, but the difference here is that it involves a character in a holy tale, the pregnant teen is the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. The story also exposes how Mary's husband, Joseph, takes the complicated and humiliating situation with her wife breaking away from her vow in reference to their tradition (when she was supposed to remain pure for one year after marriage). And what gives depth to this familiar tale is actually the more human side of the story of the young couple facing the complications in their society.
This straight-up Nativity story promotes a simple by-the-Book approach visually interpreted in a more engrossing manner. Faithful to the Bible, Jesus is portrayed with utmost respect. It tells the tale in traditional, biblical means the way the devout Christians would expect it. Clearly, it does not veer from tradition and does not pass the offensive route. It considerably validates the idea that the birth of Jesus is one of the most lyrical and emotionally resonant stories in religious literature. Reverently made as it is, it pleases the believers who don't want their faith tested. It may have a complete sense of literality in the story (it becomes nothing new with the countless biblical stories already told all these times) and only extends a bit of cinematic and dramatic license in characterization in order for it to fit better as a film, but the most interesting part of this cinematic interpretation of the Nativity is that it goes beyond the major details of the mere events and digs deeper into the possible realities of the human experiences of the characters. The film also contains many episodes not exactly mentioned in the Bible, but these scenes may have possibly occurred (without being offensive in presentation) - for instance, Mary being afraid to marry a man she doesn't know, Mary and her friends playing and running around like the usual teenagers, and Joseph being teased by a friend with a sight of Mary passing by.
The main and supporting characters are given more dimensions in terms of characterization. Keisha Castle-Hughes makes an appropriately soulful Mary. Castle-Hughes may not look exactly like the usual Mary shown in various films and art works, but her features, facial expressions, and aura becomes a really effective Mary in this film rendition. Oscar Issac becomes an ideal Joseph who tries to come to terms with his wife's Immaculate Conception. The most engaging scenes (apart from the expected marvel of the scenes of Jesus Christ's birth) involve Mary's mortified parents Anna played by Hiam Abbass and Joaquim played by Shaun Toub, and the shocked Joseph trying to maintain composure amidst the scandalous pregnancy anticipated in the mundane aspect of the situation. Isaac effectively conveys tenderness, doubt, courage, and transcendence as Joseph. Alexander Siddig as Angel Gabriel, Stanley Townsend as Zechariah and Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elizabeth are quite okay for their roles. However, some of the characters, especially the minor ones are either completely black, white, or robotic - which becomes another weakness for the film. Ciaran Hinds as King Herod and Alessandro Giuggioli as his son Antipas are absurdly malevolent in an over-the-top way. They are like the background talents becoming completely wooden in doing their roles. The guards of King Herod are made too black in terms of character as well. Thus, the film becomes partly a theater-like extravaganza with a not so positive effect. The presentation of the Three Wise Men goes a bit off at a certain point. The utilizing of the film's cinematic license in order to build up their characters does not become effective enough. Actually, it seems more of the performances going a little overboard. There are a few times that their acting becomes quite annoying. In their silken robes, the Wise Men look authentic, but they really lack some soulfulness in their characters because of the need to come up with some comic appeal that could possibly help maintain the escapist type of capturing the scenes and details. And so, The Wise Men played by Stefan Kalipha as Gaspar, Eriq Ebouaney as Balthasar, and Nadim Sawalha as Melchior come off more like the Three Stooges. It falls off more especially in scenes like Balthasar looking like a gay while touching the arms of Melchior (in awe of the sight of the baby Jesus). It may be intended for some comic effect but it actually becomes quite off.
Overall, the story is good, and that's a given. As a Christmas film (and it can pass as a Holy Week film as well), 'The Nativity Story' is tailor made for the Catholics who are faithful to the Bible. It is actually like reading the Bible through moving images in the big screen. The religious undertones are direct to the point. However, the execution obviously favors the safe over the challenging. Some people who tend to have high expectations for such a new cinematic treat may find it like a TV special only brought to theatrical life. With the present higher expectations for this era of post-modernism, some people may find it too restraint, inert, and something too much of the same thing. But personally, this seems to be the intention of the filmmaker - more than becoming a deconstructionist or non-realist masterpiece, the film is intended to become a classically wholesome film with a DVD market for the Christians to enjoy watching with their families and friends. Clearly, there is none of the anti-clerical, anti-establishment fury of the recent films inspired by religious stories as the Da Vinci Code and Passion of the Christ. And what surfaces mainly is the film's simplicity and humble awe that paves way to the old school appeal for such a story.
'The Nativity Story' has a sincerity that is sometimes quite moving, and sometimes just too quiet. A clean re-telling from its source material, it is a movie that may not take full advantage of its cinematic license, but neither does it completely betray the viewer. As simple as its title, it exudes a Hallmark Channel film appeal with its greeting card imagery and sweet, wholesome interpretation. How moved a viewer can become with this holiday fare depends on one's basic sense of human empathy and values. But obviously, this kind of motion picture depicting the birth of the Saviour is a nice family movie treat. It stirs the soul beyond the frantic holiday season of mere eating, shopping, and giving gifts for the personal excitement and gratification and for the capitalists' best time to gain profit. Indeed, it is a dutiful, traditional film, and for such intentions of reclaiming the roots of the Yuletide season for its story of love, sacrifice, celebration, and holiness, it does not necessarily become a useless thing. It becomes a thoughtful motion picture offer that can be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates potent drama, period stories, and religious messages.
The film is beautifully shot and the locations are captivatingly recreated. Personally, with this film being partly from the Scriptures and partly imagined, I wouldn't be sure of how accurate the littlest details can be. Nevertheless, it is a well conceived, traditional religious film in its entirety. It proves that the visual and storytelling possibilities of Bible stories become really appealing and touching. Director Catherine Hardwicke pays attention to details on things like make-up, clothes, food and activities that make 'The Nativity Story' seem so real (it justifies her being a production designer as well...). The cinematography complements the production design. Moreover, Hardwicke fills the story with just enough realism weaved with the heavenly signs needed like angels coming down to earth as messengers of God. The realistic special effects and painted backgrounds suggest the present technological advantage of the era that makes the visual pleasure for this moving picture more convincing. The sound elements and musical score are okay. However, the more disappointing part is the problem with the film's continuity. For the keen-eyed, more especially, it is noticeable to see a character's background jumping/disappearing from one shot to another. Also, some things and people aren't exactly in the same places during changes in camera angles.
'The Nativity Story' shows in the country just in time with the week where the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is slated (December 8 ). It surrounds the events leading to the birth of Jesus in a well versed visual translation of the Biblical tale. The film has a tame picture-book sincerity. It sticks to the familiar details of the narrative and dramatizes them with without bringing anything new to the table, but it offers a beautifully shot Bible story that can last for generations.
About the Author
Check out my site: Rianne's Film Blog (http://www.riannehillsoriano.com/blog)
Having been bitten by the film bug, I have realized that pain is temporary; film is forever. I'm a free-spirited artist who is in constant search for the ultimate experience in every place-seeking inspirations for every work...
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