Here is a real oddity; a religious film directed by an atheist and Marxist, Pier Passolini. I share his non religious views, as a retired Catholic myself, but I can still appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the Sistine Chapel and other vestiges of the Roman church.
St. Matthew, as the title implies, is based upon the writings of Matt. The black and white imagery, with long silent stretches, relies heavily on the actor's expressions, rather than dialogue. Many amateurs were used, including Passolini's mother as the Virgin Mary. Somehow, it works, as the cast is surprisingly good. Enrique Irazoqui plays Jesus as a wandering Jew, excuse the expression, roaming about and speaking a message of love to strangers he meets along the way. There is no preaching or piety, just a simple story of a man spreading the word of tolerance and salvation. The cinematography is somber and I was impressed by the simple and straightforward approach that Passolini used in creating this often overdone biblical story.
St. Matthew, as the title implies, is based upon the writings of Matt. The black and white imagery, with long silent stretches, relies heavily on the actor's expressions, rather than dialogue. Many amateurs were used, including Passolini's mother as the Virgin Mary. Somehow, it works, as the cast is surprisingly good. Enrique Irazoqui plays Jesus as a wandering Jew, excuse the expression, roaming about and speaking a message of love to strangers he meets along the way. There is no preaching or piety, just a simple story of a man spreading the word of tolerance and salvation. The cinematography is somber and I was impressed by the simple and straightforward approach that Passolini used in creating this often overdone biblical story.