A Luminous Mary

A Luminous Mary | Gibbons J. Cooney | Catholic World Report


Alissa Jung overwhelms in the new film “Mary of Nazareth”


On October 11, at the Metreon Theater
in San Francisco, Ignatius Press sponsored a premiere screening of the film Mary of Nazareth. Originally released in
2012 as a two-part, 200-minute production for Italian TV, the film has been
edited down to 153 minutes for theatrical release. Mary of Nazareth was directed by the Italian Giacomo Campiotti,
whose other religious movies include Bakhita
about St. Josephine Bakhita, and St.
Giuseppe Moscati, about the Physician Saint of Naples. It was written
by the Italian Francesco Arlanch, author of the screenplay for Restless
Heart (about St. Augustine), Pius XII,
and Pope John Paul II.  Actors include the Germans Alissa Jung as
Mary and Andreas Pietschmann as Jesus, and the Italian Luca Marinelli as
Joseph.

The movie chronicles the life of Mary
from just before the time of her Presentation at the Temple until the
Resurrection. Much of Mary of Nazareth
can be seen as a modern version of the “pious legends” of the Middle Ages. Like
the pious legends, nothing in the movie contradicts Scripture, but it does
contain scenes that are not in Scripture—things that a reasonable person realizes
must have happened even if there is no record. 
Such things include the wedding of Mary and Joseph, Jesus as a boy
falling and hurting himself, the death of Joseph, etc.  Luca Marinelli is splendid as Joseph: young,
masculine, kind, and, of course, just. When he requests permission from St.
Joachim to speak to Mary for the first time, and meets with the familiar fatherly
suspicion on Joachim’s part, we laugh, because we know the outcome, but we feel
for the nervous young man at the same time. 
Joseph’s character grows the most in the movie, as he accepts, then
loves, and finally, in his humility, even develops a sense of humor about his
unprecedented situation. A seminarian who was in attendance at the premiere said,
“That’s masculinity, right there!”  Andreas Pietschmann is good as Jesus, strong
and steady in an almost impossible role. Paz Vega is properly intense and
passionate as Mary Magdalene. But this movie is all about Alissa Jung’s Mary.

Ms. Jung’s performance is radiant—like
nothing I can remember seeing.

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