L'inchiesta (2006)

Director:

Giulio Base

Writers:

Suso Cecchi d'Amico (story)
Ennio Flaiano (story)

Release Date:

4 April 2007 (Spain)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History | Mystery

Tagline:

The thrilling tale of one man's quest to uncover the mystery of all mysteries. Sent to disprove the resurrection, he discovers faith, love, and a revelation that could shatter the empire.

Plot:

In 35 A.D., a Roman tribune is sent to Palestine to investigate the death and possible resurrection of a certain Jesus from Nasareth.

Plot Keywords:

Christian | Tiberius | Roman | Jerusalem | Pontius Pilate

Cast

Daniele Liotti	...	Tito Valerio Tauro
Dolph Lundgren	...	Brixos
Mónica Cruz	...	Tabitha
Hristo Shopov	...	Pontius Pilate
Christo Jivkov	...	Stefano
Ornella Muti	...	Mary of Magdalene
F. Murray Abraham	...	Nathan
Max von Sydow	...	Tiberius
Anna Kanakis	...	Claudia Procula
Enrico Lo Verso	...	Shimon Peter
Fabrizio Bucci	...	Jesus
Maria Pia Calzone	...	Mary, Mother of Jesus
Vincenzo Bocciarelli	...	Caligola
Roberto Negri	...	Aulus Fuscus
Ciro Esposito	...	Stefano the Disciple

Also Known As:

En busca de la tumba de Cristo (Spain)
The Final Inquiry (USA) (new title)
The Inquiry (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence.

Runtime:

112 min | Italy:190 min (TV version)

Country:

Italy | Spain | USA | Bulgaria

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Spain:13 | Germany:16 (video premiere) | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Italian International Film

Trivia:

Was conceived as both a theatrical film and a TV movie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Afraid of attempts to kill him, the emperor Tiberius didn't allow anyone (with the exception, of course, of his hand-picked bodyguards) to carry arms in his presence. Yet, Titus Valerius has his sword on his left hip when on Capri.

Movie Connections:

Remake of L'inchiesta (1986)

I wish just once . . .

First, I was unaware that this was a re-make. If the first movie is on DVD, I'll try it to see any difference. As to this movie (2006), I am going to write my usual bug-aboo about historical accuracy and the movies.

I wish just once that a film set in the period of Yeshua/Jesus would depict the Jewish people with a less than jaundiced - read: historically inaccurate - eye. I was confronted at the very opening of this film with yet another scene of "crazed Jews" stoning a woman for adultery. According to some extensive research on this period, I have learned that the imposition of the death penalty in ancient Jewish society was rare and could only be undertaken under very controlled conditions. For example, a woman caught in adultery was not automatically put to death. Both she and her husband had to appear before the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem - and only this body, with the consent of every single member, could actually pronounce the death sentence. One "no" vote and there was an acquittal. The husband could forgive his wife and take her back and that was the end of it. Or he could divorce her. If she was freed and committed adultery again, then the matter would be returned to the High Court. Trials took three days: testimony and evidence on the first day; deliberation by the court on the second, and the third day reserved for the verdict. This third day was meant as a "cooling off period" to avoid a rush to judgment. The sentence upon conviction was not always death. None of this "crazed outrage" in the streets followed by an angry stoning as depicted in this film. It is also said that any Sanhedrin that passed two death sentences within 7 years was called a "bloody Sanhedrin." In other words, the Jewish people had made a deliberate attempt to provide justice in an orderly and civilized way. To depict them as simply a bunch of "crazies" running about the streets like blood-crazed savages is nothing more than pure propaganda.

One other note on the trial, each member of the court had a small pebble - a stone - that they tossed (cast) into a large pot. The stones were then counted to reach a verdict. This is what is meant by the phrase: "Let those among you who are blameless (without malice; pure of heart) cast the first stone."

Further, no Sanhedrin would meet to hold a "trial" - especially one involving a potential death sentence - within three days BEFORE and three days AFTER a religious holiday. This is because of the three-day trial concept. Therefore, Jesus couldn't be tried and convicted on the same day.

As far as this movie is concerned, it is a standard Christian story told with some reverence for the faith, although it is not entirely original in it's story line. Compare it with "The Robe" (1953) where a Roman soldier (Richard Burton) is sent by the Emperor Tiberias to find the "true" story of what happened in Jerusalem. That Roman is cynical at first but, through the miracle of Peter saving a young woman (played then by Debra Paget), the soldier converts to Christianity.