The film does not portray Jesus Christ as He historically must have been, something some later Gospel films have been trying. But Pasolini seems to have tried to portray the Jesus of the Gospel of St. Matthew as it must have been to the eyes of believing beholders. This story is as it has been, even if it is totally unhistorical. You feel you come very close to the real Jesus Christ, much closer than through other films. I know of a Hindu viewer who immediately felt that this was the real Jesus Christ. It helps that Pasolini made the film in black and white. It is very poetic in composition. But I also known of viewers who almost fell asleep after the first thirty minutes and were not interested in seeing the rest, even though they could follow the Italian. I find it a good thing Jesus speaks Italian and not Shakespearian English.
