Mary Magdalene (2018)

The story of Mary Magdalene.

Director:

Garth Davis

Writers:

Helen Edmundson, Philippa Goslett

Stars:

Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rooney Mara	...	Mary Magdalene
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Jesus
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Peter
Tahar Rahim	...	Judas
Ariane Labed	...	Rachel
Denis Ménochet	...	Daniel
Lubna Azabal	...	Susannah
Tchéky Karyo	...	Elisha
Charles Babalola	...	Andrew
Tawfeek Barhom	...	James
Ryan Corr	...	Joseph
Uri Gavriel	...	Philip
Shira Haas	...	Leah
Tsahi Halevi	...	Ephraim
Michael Moshonov	...	Matthew

Storyline

Judea, 33 AD. Mary is a faithful young girl from the village of Magdala (close to Galilea Lake) unsure to follow the traditions and destiny reserved to the women, living only as wife and mother, in her wish to be free. After to reject a marriage proposal of Ephraim, a family friend, her brother Daniel and her father Elisha make her an exorcism in the belief that she is possessed by a demon. Trying to find a solution Elisha asks help Jesus, a healer who is earning fame between the Jews of the zone with his speeches about a kingdom of peace and love free of hate, tyranny, oppression and prosecution, to heal Mary and that finally she obeys and submits to their will. Astonished by the charisma, personality and words of Jesus, Mary decides to follow him despite the strong opposition of her family. She meets a few men who too walk with Jesus as Peter, Andrew, James, John and Judas, who have their personal interests and ideas about Jesus' words and his revolution. At the same time that Mary ...

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Plot Keywords:

feminism | apostle | resurrection | jerusalem | crucifixion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

UK USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2018 (UK)

Also Known As:

Untitled Mary Magdalene Project

Filming Locations:

Sicily, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

See-Saw Films, Porchlight Films, Universal Pictures International Production (UPIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix started dating during the production of this film.

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Connections

Referenced in Flat Earth & Revelation 10: Reach the Oxygen (2016)

User Reviews

A Subtle Masterpiece

Taking the most influential, taken apart, retold, sold, fabricated, used, abused and misunderstood man of the last 2018 years is no easy task. Simply because it really involves all of those things. However, I understand that that's the main reason this production happened. It's a story told a million times, and not told well enough.

I have never seen so much effort into telling the story of Jesus in the most accurate way possible. The movie is filled with its historic background. From its pace to its cinematography. To me, that is the effect seen from much research. This team was not worried about pleasing this or that crowd as they were with what they found out and what they interpreted throughout the process. There's a great unity in this work, which is rare to find. This same outlook permeates the whole movie and the cast.

It took guts to make something made so mystical over the years to be something human, possible, close. From being accurate on the cultural influence on everything that Jesus did or talked about to showing the almost zero impact he had on society of the time. To showing the simplicity of the traveling and eating of the group, to showing the big influence a woman had on the story that unfolded.

An outstanding movie that captured the essence of Chistianity. Because of that, there's a big chance of it being forgotten, ignored and misinterpreted, just like the real story and the real characters.