angelosdaughter Review of Full of Grace

Full of Grace (I) (2015)

A Quiet Film About the Last Years of the Mother of Jesus POSSIBLE SPOILERS

[10/10 · 19 December 2016]

I just finished watching this movie, and I was impressed by the simple meditative mood: Mary at the end of her life reflecting on her journey as the mother, not only of her Son, but of the Apostles and disciples He left in her care. She shares her reveries, her pain at the slaughter of the Innocents as she and Joseph flee to Egypt to save the Child, the ordeal of participating in His suffering and death and the lifting of that sorrow replaced by the joy in her heart when He is resurrected. As the end approaches, Mary encourages Peter, whose faith in himself is challenged by the conflict among the early disciples, as well as the others who have gathered around her, by reminding them that Jesus lives within each of them, will strengthen them for the work ahead,and that like Him she, too, will remain with them always. Bahia Haifi as a believable older Mary realistically portrays the mother of Jesus, serene in the face of her approaching death.Her face with its gentle lines and loving smile as she shares her memories is just as I would imagine Mary to look in her latter years. Noam Jenkins effectively plays Peter,struggling with the weight of the role he feels that Jesus has placed on him as the leader of the disciples, and later renewed by his time with mother Mary, is strengthened to take up his task anew. Altogether a quiet reflective film for those who believe, and maybe even those who don't.