The Nativity Story (2006)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Catherine Hardwicke

Writer (WGA):

Mike Rich (written by)

Release Date:

1 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

Her child would change the world.

Plot:

A drama that focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph's life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. |

Plot Keywords:

Disciple | Christmas | Governor | Temptation | Childbirth

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Keisha Castle-Hughes	...	Mary
Oscar Isaac	...	Joseph
Hiam Abbass	...	Anna
Shaun Toub	...	Joaquim
Ciarán Hinds	...	Herod
Shohreh Aghdashloo	...	Elizabeth
Stanley Townsend	...	Zechariah
Alexander Siddig	...	The Angel Gabriel
Nadim Sawalha	...	Melchior
Eriq Ebouaney	...	Balthasar
Stefan Kalipha	...	Gaspar
Alessandro Giuggioli	...	Antipas
Farida Ouchani	...	Ruth
Saïd Amadis	...	Tero
Maria Giovanna Donzelli	...	Mary's Friend

Also Known As:

Nativity (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some violent content.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #43084) | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Finland:K-7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Norway:7 | Argentina:Atp | Hong Kong:I | Australia:PG | Sweden:Btl | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:All | Peru:PT | Denmark:7 | Canada:G (Ontario/Quebec) | South Africa:PG | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

By the time New Line had agreed to finance the film, several other studios had similar nativity scripts under review, so the film was rushed to production for a Christmas 2006 release date, thereby eliminating competition.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Baby Jesus is born, he doesn't have an umbilical cord.

Quotes:

Mary: You've never really told me of your dream.
Joseph: My dream?
[pause, he is teasing her and also contemplating his response]
Joseph: No.
Mary: Please, tell me.
Joseph: An angel came to me. He told me the child within you had been conceived by the Holy Spirit and that I should not be afraid.
Mary: Are you afraid?
Joseph: Yes.
[laughing]
Joseph: Are you?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: The Nativity Story: A Director's Journey (#13.20)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

In Rosa Vernat Lilium

Not "A"... but "THE" Christmas Movie...

The movie was in a rough-cut stage, so I can not wait to see the finishing touches! I really had no idea what to expect and even though the movie was in a rough-cut... I was well pleased with what I saw. I do know that when I walk out of the theatre I felt as if I had been on a journey back to Biblical days. The characters were so real, a wonderful job done by each actor! Oscar Isaac played a great Joseph. Oscar's heart can be seen in the character of Joseph, it is what makes Joseph so real! Keisha Castle-Hughes plays Mary and although I do not have but a daughter-in-law, I could feel the emotions of Mary's parents, as if it where my own daughter! I walked away having been a part of Joseph and Mary's family... I was a Shepherd in the field on that Holy Night... I traveled with the wise men and enjoyed their humor! The Story, of the birth of Jesus, has lived in my heart for many years and now... for years to come... the story will live in my mind! Stephen Modawell - Arlington, Texas