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Again, it is hard to be critical of a film about one of the world's great(est) religions. No matter the religion it is always a minefield in making a competent film without running afoul or offending its believers. "Risen' does a good job of exploring the envelope without stretching, per se.
Joseph Fiennes plays Clavius th Tribune who become embroiled in a desperate manhunt to locate the body of Yeshua. The film opens with a historically accurate battle scene between one of Clavius' units and a group of Jewish rebels. It was brutal but the Testudo won the day. From there Clavius was ordered to by Pilate to supervise the crucifixion of the three condemned men and to make sure the body of Yeshua is laid to rest so his followers would not steal it to claim Resurrection. The crucifixion scene is, again, historically accurate and unpleasant.
When Yeshnua's body is found missing the two assigned guards are absent and living under the protection of the Jewish priest inside the Temple walls. From here, Clavius dutifully pursues his followers in order to locate the body in order to prove Yeshua has not risen from the grave.
Fiennes gave a somewhat intense performance of the "duty first" Tribune who becomes spiritually troubled from the crucifixion. Pilate, played by Peter Firth, is the new Charles Laughton. I smiled at his semi-cantankerous Laughton persona being ever cynical. But, most of all, Cliff Curtis (NZ Maori) did the best job of being Yeshua I've seen. He said almost nothing yet beamed the loving countenance with great aplomb. With his dark looks and eyes he finally makes the Jewish Yeshua an easy to accept personage. Blond hair and blues no longer apply.
Unlike most films of this nature, the disciples were happy and filled with joy. There was no mock gravitas to ever word spoken. It really helps to lighten the ambiance of the greatest story for Christians.
Looking back, there have been a number of pictures from the 50's and 60's that show this story through Roman eyes. This is an update of sorts but a valid one that can be enjoyed for its historically correct flavor without a great friendship or love interest running parallel to it.
Of course, I am inclined to recommend it but that would be presumptuous on my part. This film is spiritually powerful but also a good look at the era with a decent historical representation.
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