The Young Messiah (2016)

Tells the story of Jesus Christ at age seven as he and his family depart Egypt to return home to Nazareth. Told from his childhood perspective, it follows young Jesus as he grows into his religious identity.

Director:

Cyrus Nowrasteh

Writers:

Anne Rice (novel), Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh (screenplay)

Stars:

Adam Greaves-Neal, Vincent Walsh, Sara Lazzaro

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adam Greaves-Neal	...	Jesus
Sara Lazzaro	...	Mary
Vincent Walsh	...	Joseph
Finn Ireland	...	James (as Finn McLeod Ireland)
Christian McKay	...	Cleopas
Agni Scott	...	Miriam
Lois Ellington	...	Salome
Jane Lapotaire	...	Old Sarah
Duné Medros	...	Riba (as Dune Medros)
Rory Keenan	...	The Demon
Sean Bean	...	Severus
Clive Russell	...	Weer
Jonathan Bailey	...	Herod
David Bradley	...	Old Rabbi (Nazareth)
David Burke	...	The Blind Rabbi

Storyline

At the age of 7, Jesus Bar-Joseph lives with his family in Alexandria, Egypt, where they have fled to avoid a massacre of children by King Herod of Israel. Jesus knows that his parents Joseph and Mary have secrets they are keeping from him, secrets about his birth and about traits that make him very different from other boys. His parents, however, believe him too young to grasp the truth of his miraculous birth and purpose. Learning that the murderous Herod is dead, they set out to return to their home of Nazareth in Israel, unaware that Herod's namesake son is, like his father, determined to see the boy Jesus dead.

---

Plot Keywords:

israel | jesus christ | messiah | based on novel | 

---

Taglines:

Experience your faith through the wonder of the child.

---

Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG - 13 for some violence and thematic elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second time director Christopher Columbus has worked with a character named Severus, following his work on the Harry Potter franchise.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Salome: For a camel, you make a triangle like this.
[drawing in the dirt]
Salome: That's the hump. It's so easy. See? Then some lines for legs here. Teacher taught me how to do this. He showed me elephants and cats, too. But I told him you like camels. That's the neck.
[looking up]
Salome: You're not watching. Then on top, I put another triangle for a head. They have big round eyes and a skinny tail here.

---

Soundtracks

Barcheinu Avinu
Written by Shlomo Carlebach (as Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach), BMI
Used with the permission of the Estate of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

User Reviews

Thoughtfully compelling

Despite some literary license taken with the Bible, the movie still offers great food for thought for considering what Jesus's developmental days might have been like...for Jesus and for all concerned in his presence.

The acting is superb (far better than "Risen") with a beautiful Biblical backdrop. The director focuses often on facial close-ups and the actors respond with looks that offer more than words might describe.

Sara Lazaro is perfect as Mary. Sean Bean outstanding as Severus. Adam Greaves-Neal carefully crafts a compelling young Jesus.

Bible readers know Jesus' first recorded miracle didn't happen till much later and the Wise Men didn't appear right at Jesus' birth, but putting that aside (and the slip-on sandals...I don't think those were that popular then) the movie explores some complexities that might not always be considered when thinking of a young Jesus and overall succeeds in doing it in an uplifting, yet not hokey manner.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$18,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,294,876, 13 March 2016

Gross USA:

$6,490,401

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,330,338

Company Credits

Production Co:

1492 Pictures, CJ Entertainment, Hyde Park International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1