The Body (2001)

A crucified body dated back to the first century A.D is uncovered at an ancient cave in Jerusalem. Trouble ensues as word spreads.

Director:

Jonas McCord

Writers:

Richard Sapir (novel) (as Richard Ben Sapir), Jonas McCord (screenplay)

Stars:

Antonio Banderas, Olivia Williams, John Shrapnel

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Banderas	...	Father Matt Gutierrez
Olivia Williams	...	Sharon Golban
John Shrapnel	...	Moshe Cohen
Derek Jacobi	...	Father Lavelle
Jason Flemyng	...	Father Walter Winstead
Lillian Lux	...	Mother
John Wood	...	Cardinal Pesci
Makram Khoury	...	Nasir Hamid (as Makram J. Khoury)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Monsignor
Ian McNeice	...	Dr. Sproul
Mohammad Bakri	...	Abu Yusef (as Muhamed Bakri)
Yoav Dekelbaum	...	Avi (as Yoav Deckelbaum)
Sami Samir	...	Achmed
Jordan Licht	...	Dorene
Limor Goldstein	...	Galic

Storyline

An ancient skeleton has been discovered in Jerusalem in a rich man's tomb. Coloration of the wrist and leg bones indicates the cause of death was crucifiction. Other signs, include a gold coin bearing the marks of Pontius Pilate and faint markings around the skull, lead authorities to suspect that these could be the bones of Jesus. Politicians, clerics, religious extremists, and those using terror as a means to an end, find their beliefs and identities tested while risking their lives to unearth the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

jerusalem | cave | tomb | skull | street shootout | 

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Taglines:

To find the truth, he will risk his life and challenge his faith

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent sequences and brief language

Details

Country:

USA Israel Germany

Language:

English Arabic Hebrew

Release Date:

13 December 2001 (Germany)

Also Known As:

El cuerpo

Filming Locations:

Israel

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,988, 22 April 2001

Gross USA:

$36,849

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$280,777

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avalanche Films, Compass Productions, Diamant Cohen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kristin Scott Thomas was offered the role of Sharon Golban.

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Goofs

At one point Matt is said to be a "priest from America". Later he recalls fighting in the revolution in his country.

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Quotes

Moshe Cohen: Religion is not based on rational system of proofs. It survives because of human need.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Freddy Got Fingered/Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles/The Body (2001)

User Reviews

When he rose from the dead,did they believe? (Bob Dylan "in the garden")

This movie has a plus side and a minus side:

-On the plus side,the fear a priest encounters when he discovers that bones found in a Jerusalem' s grave by an archaeologist might be Jesus 's ones.So if Jesus is a man,it's a whole religion which falls down;one should note that ,for that matter ,the Muslims' and the Jews ' religions stand in little danger of bringing this about.Antonio Banderas is very convincing,I do not know if the actor is a believer,but we do believe the character he portrays is.

-On the minus side,when the movie becomes a thriller (complete with kidnapping,shootings and priest becoming a superhero),it peters out.One can admit the Jews want to keep the Vatican from getting the bones,but that part is not better than a Van Damme flick.

Watch this movie anyway cause it asks disturbing questions.