The Nativity Story (2006)

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

Director:

Catherine Hardwicke

Writer:

Mike Rich

Stars:

Keisha Castle-Hughes, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Oscar Isaac

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In Nazareth, teenager Mary is betrothed to the local carpenter, Joseph. Mary is visited by an angel and told that she will fulfill a prophecy and as a virgin give birth to God's son, the savior of the world. Mary's pregnancy brings her the scorn of the community and Joseph struggles to believe her seemingly outlandish story. Meanwhile, a census forces every man and his family to return to his place of birth. Joseph and Mary set out on a long and arduous journey to Bethlehem. This story is based on the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

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Plot Keywords:

israeli occupied territories | palestine | bethlehem | nazareth | virgin | 

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Taglines:

One family . One journey. One child...who would change the world forever.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [France] Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

1 December 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nativity

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,849,304, 3 December 2006, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$37,629,831, 18 January 2007

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$46,432,264, 17 August 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema,Sound for Film,Temple Hill Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first feature film ever to premiere at the Vatican.

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Goofs

The old shepherd's mustache is yellowed by nicotine, a sign of habitual smoking. While cannabis and hookah pipes were familiar to the Middle East as early as 2000 BC, tobacco wasn't introduced to the old world until the late 16th century.

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Quotes

[a man tries to steal their money]
Joseph: What comes with us, stays with us.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

In Rosa Vernat Lilium
(The Rose and the Lily)
Music by Mychael Danna
Lyrics by Elizabeth Danna
Performed by Azam Ali
Azam Ali appears courtesy of Six Degrees Records

User Reviews

Why I GIve It A Ten

As I write this I am aware that the vote is averaging 6.3. If you could see my voting record you would know that I do not give a high vote easily. So why do I see this so differently than many of you. Is it because I am a devout Christian? I did not give the PAssion of the Christ a very high rating. So i feel that I can be even handed in seeing this as what it is.

1. I think that Ciaran Hinds played Herod as well as I have ever seen. The paranoia, and menace came through so well.

2. I think Elliot Davis' cinematography was beautiful. It made me feel that I was in a renaissance painting.

3. I was moved emotionally - which is not true of the Passion of the Christ movie.

4. The parts of the movie that were based on the Biblw were accurate - although I wished they had shown a choir of the heavenly host.

5. The parts of the movie that were based on conjecture or Catholic traditions were well thought out. I enjoyed the use of the Wise Men as comic relief.

I believe this movie so far is highly underrated.

Adny Smith