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      Jesus of Montreal

      R Released May 25, 1989 1h 59m Comedy Drama List
      69% 16 Reviews Tomatometer 87% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score This unconventional Canadian film focuses on an acting troupe hired to stage a Passion play about the life of Jesus. Led by Daniel (Lothaire Bluteau), the actors, all struggling with their own issues, work on a bold interpretation of the Biblical tale that challenges accepted Christian thinking and brings a burst of outrage from the Roman Catholic priests who recruited them. As the story progresses, Daniel's life starts to echo the trials of Jesus in unexpected and poignant ways. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (219) audience reviews
      Josh G A Canadian film layered in allegory, nuance and religious imagery. It plays out as an inside story of actors in pursuit of dreams, Old versus new concepts and generational gaps through art. As well as the idea of sacrifice in modern day. Brilliant acted by the five main members of the cast with Lothaire Bluteau being a stand out. I really loved the camera and sound design. Thought provoking and stunning film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/20/22 Full Review Audience Member An outstanding movie in which a group of actors who usually overdub prom movies decide to reenact the passion plays. A furor breaks out between conservatives and the creatives. The passion play goes ahead but eerily begins to mirror the biblical events. The performance of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater in a subway at the end iof the film s beautiful. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Jesus of Montreal is a great film and a very compelling take on Christ in modern times. In many respects, the film argues that Christ can arise from anyone and anywhere, which is an interesting way to look at it. The acting is very good and I loved the unique method of heavily utilizing the play within a film angle. The acting is very good and I loved the writing and direction of the film. It is also very well lit with the appropriate lighting in each scene and it really magnifies the poignant movies quite well. Overall, Jesus of Montreal is a really profound experience that also manages to be quite funny at times, which is a nice balance with the spiritually poignant elements. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member An excellent satire on peoples' inability to differentiate religion from reality. Admittedly dated looking but still as relevant today as it had to have been in the 80s. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member life imitates art or vice versa here Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A masterful reinterpretation of the Passion Play that presents a boldly challenging take on Jesus, which is brilliantly complemented by a subtle Biblical symbology in the film as a whole. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Jesus of Montreal

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (16) Critics Reviews
      Barbara Scharres Chicago Reader The actual performance of the play goes on long enough to border on the polemical, but it’s not a terrible price to pay for the film’s melodramatic and quite powerful ending. May 11, 2022 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times It's an original and uncompromising attempt to explore what really might happen, if the spirit of Jesus were to walk among us in these timid and materialistic times. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) The whole film, apart from a few bits of keen social satire, is sophomoric and self-impressed in the worst way. Rated: 1.5/4 May 9, 2023 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Insincere, manipulative, poorly acted and poorly photographed. [Full review in Spanish] Nov 30, 2022 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Denys Arcand made this original movie, in which life imitates art, at the peak of his career, right after Decline of the American Empire. Rated: B+ Jun 13, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis This unconventional Canadian film focuses on an acting troupe hired to stage a Passion play about the life of Jesus. Led by Daniel (Lothaire Bluteau), the actors, all struggling with their own issues, work on a bold interpretation of the Biblical tale that challenges accepted Christian thinking and brings a burst of outrage from the Roman Catholic priests who recruited them. As the story progresses, Daniel's life starts to echo the trials of Jesus in unexpected and poignant ways.
      Director
      Denys Arcand
      Distributor
      Orion Pictures
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      French (Canada)
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 25, 1989, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Nov 9, 2004
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $20.4K
      Runtime
      1h 59m
      Sound Mix
      Surround