The Gospel According to St. Matthew
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Enrique Irazoqui, Marcello Morante, Margherita Caruso, Mario Socrate, Susanna PasoliniBrand: Water Bearer Films
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Italian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Black & White, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 142 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-22
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Water Bearer Films, Inc
Movie Reviews of The Gospel According to St. Matthew
Movie Review: THE ONE AND THE ONLY ESSENTIAL EVANGELICAL FILM
Summary: 5 Stars
I now have both the English overdubbed version and the English subtitled version. As far as I can tell there is not available here an Italian only version made from an original master restored with the skill and grace of Criterion, nor a version which lets you choose to cancel the subtitles or change languages, and this is the only gripe about this great cinematic presentation of the first Gospel (first in the Canon, not in the chronology).
I must therefore choose between a version in which scenes seem to have been cut and the speed turned up and English imposed, or a more authentic version seen through the spider's veil of white English letters across the entire bottom half of the screen, blocking the gripping visuals and the profoundly sincere faces of the nonprofessional actors.
Nevertheless, this film remains in every way the one cinematic production of the Gospels we ever need watch, and need watch again. It is hard to believe it is over forty years since my father first brought me to see this movie at a public theatre, and I find it now as fresh and compelling and communicative in a near sacramental way as then. It is a true epiphany and a revelation.
The Virgin Mary is astonishingly authentic and appropriate. The director no doubt heard Saint Bernadette Soubirous's observation that every representation of the Virgin which she saw in painting or in sculpture was far too old.
Here the young Mary appears fifteen or younger, and has a face which speaks volumes with one gaze, or silent squint. This is truly the best Mary ever filmed, and the most memorable, and she actually fuels earnest and true devotion, unlike most any other film or staged photo, especially Zefarelli`s (sp.). All else looks like Monty Python in artificiality after contemplating this pure young Virgin Mary.
For this reason alone may we thank Pasolini. Within this young Mary we see a woman capable of hearing the Annunciation with more understanding, trust and courage than would be possible in any other human soul, a Mary capable of the valiant Visitation, and a Mary capable of that greatest revolutionary prayer, the Magnificat, long chanted in traditional monastic choirs long before the Hail Mary was ever pieced together. She shows great courage despite her uncertainty at the Epiphany. And she conveys this all within this film without a spoken word.
Of course the older Mary at the Crucifixion and the Resurrection was played equally effectively by Pasolini's own mother, sharing with us fully her agony, the sword which pierced her heart, and her ultimate joy and hope at the resurrection.
There is so much which is great about this movie and so far I have mentioned only one character. Watch Peter as he goes out to weep bitterly after the triple denial, or John, the Beloved Apostle. Saint John the Baptist, the only Saint to predecease Jesus, is so excellent in a modern, prophetic, verbal, preaching, intellectual and professional manner that he seems from a different movie, or time, as he was. Clearly he has the intellectual courage to confront Herod and any other earthly power. Saint Joseph is quietly amazing, as he hears the advice of the Angel and does not put Mary aside quietly but trusts in Faith and takes on his great responsibility. The Angel is absolutely amazing, authentic, awe-inspiring, confidence inspiring. Please see this film.
Herod also gets his job done as a corrupt ruler who rots in his own greed and corruption and violence. The scene of deceiving the Magi, his death among his court, and the rest are very well done. The scene of his soldiers slaughtering all the young and baby boys in a desparate attempt to annihilate the Messiah must call to mind the insane and stupid violence against helpless children of our present time, yet these scenes might be easily overlooked in our contemplation of the many uplifting scenes.
Jesus is played strongly and with authority by a young university student from Madrid. The scenes of the temptation in the desert and the Sermon on the Mount demand and reward repeated viewing, as well of course as the Passion, which Gibson could not make more effective with buckets of fake blood. This Passion in Pasolini truly wrenches your heart in ways which Gibson could not.
This film also contains as soundtrack the only remaining recording of the authentic Missa Luba, and also interesting insertions of Delta blues, one Robert Johnson style groans over slide giutar and the other pure Gospel, the great hymn and lamentation "Sometimes I feel like a Motherless Child" sung low and slow and mournfully, but the meaning of whose English lyrics might distract us from the purely musical intent of the director. Also included are snippets of Bach and Mozart, which seem more present in the Italian version.
Sorry for the long discussion of this important film. I encourage you to get both of these versions until Criterion can piece together a disk of their usual high and comprehensive quality wih all the options, and we can finally meditate the Gospel news in Italian without subtitles in a complete and original print. In the meantime we might skip the colorized version, which I have not seen and see no need to.
Keep this movie in your machine in heavy rotation, not just now in Holy Week. Please notice the very affectionate, glowing, warm and familiar dedication to the greatest and penultimate Italian Pope John XXIII, who had recently passed when this movie was made. The director's dedication sincerely homages his Holiness.
Summary of The Gospel According to St. Matthew
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