The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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The Gospel According to St. Matthew

1964

2h 16m

History

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

89%

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37 Reviews

86%

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2,500+ Ratings

Pier Paolo Pasolini's Biblical drama follows the life of Jesus Christ (Enrique Irazoqui) as depicted in the Gospel of Matthew from the New Testament. Much of the dialogue in the Italian film hews closely to the text, which focuses on the teachings of Jesus, including his parables, and on their revolutionary nature. As Jesus travels along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, he gradually gathers more followers, leading him into direct conflict with the authorities.

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Critics Consensus

The Gospel According to St. Matthew forgoes the pageantry of biblical epics in favor of a naturalistic retelling of the Christ story, achieving a respectful if not reverent interpretation with political verve.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Superb in every way, and possibly the film-maker's best.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 1, 2013

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A fierce magnesium flame of a movie.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 28, 2013

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Definitely one for multiple viewings, and arguably up there with Pasolini's best.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 8, 2012

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

There is a purity ... that gives it a transcendental aura.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 3, 2025

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

With a refined aesthetic, Pasolini frames an ascetic portrait of Christ's journey in a neorealist style, but unfortunately, his approach to the biblical text is didactic. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Apr 13, 2025

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Scott Nye

Battleship Pretension

Pasolini frequently uses those who push themselves to the margins of society to expose our collective and individual weaknesses, and our determination to maintain the image of order.

Jun 29, 2023

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Stephen C

Based on a true story in 2 hours and 16 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Italian and American English audio options with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Teddy B

Pasolini humbles the Passion without the grandiose frivolities, overblown budgets and misplaced cruelty of other interpretations. The simplicity of the film, very much a 'what you see is what you get' type situation, feels interesting but isolating at the same time. The documentary style and over-reliance of pure silence does make this film slightly uncomfortable to get through, though.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

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Alec B

It's interesting to compare this to the biblical epics getting cranked out by Hollywood at the same time. Those movies were massive in scope, incredibly long, overwrought, and excessively sentimental while Pasolini's vision is intimate, comparatively short, and more emotionally subdued. Can you guess which was the more successful?

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

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Vitor O

Arguably the best religious epic from the 60's, this picture (made by an atheist and marxist Pasolini) is beautiful, elegant, and stripped from all the nonsense and hokum characteristic from the Holywoodian versions from that era.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Hilary L

Terrible movie. The acting is bad, the depiction of Jesus Christ is by far the worst I've seen in my life.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

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Nawt W

How ironic that one of the most faithful depictions of Jesus' life is put on film by a gay, Marxist atheist. Showing Matthew 1–28 in the most unostentatious, raw way possible. Everything is under the rule of realism, starting with the unkempt unibrow of first-time actor Enrique Irazoqui, who plays the most intimidating Jesus yet. His deadpan expression of determination and his sudden splashes of temper really paint a vivid picture of a preacher. As is customary with neorealism, non-professional actors are used, and this Bible story is no exception. The muddy outskirts of Judea clash with anachronistic Roman armor that is clearly not from this age or maybe the Roman era at all. The movie has one Odetta song play on repeat, and since this is an Italian movie, the mandatory dub is mostly out of sync.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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Pier Paolo Pasolini

Director

Enrique Irazoqui

Christ

Margherita Caruso

Mary (younger)

Susanna Pasolini

Mary (older)

Marcello Morante

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Mario Socrate

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Synopsis

Pier Paolo Pasolini's Biblical drama follows the life of Jesus Christ (Enrique Irazoqui) as depicted in the Gospel of Matthew from the New Testament. Much of the dialogue in the Italian film hews closely to the text, which focuses on the teachings of Jesus, including his parables, and on their revolutionary nature. As Jesus travels along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, he gradually gathers more followers, leading him into direct conflict with the authorities.

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Producer: Alfredo Bini
Screenwriter: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Distributor: Water Bearer Films, Continental Distributing Inc.
Production Co: Arco Films
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 4, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Mono

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