Customer Reviews

Jesus de Montreal ( Original French Version )

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Of all the depictions on film of the crucifixion of Christ, I find this one the most harrowing...it's wrenching as well as uplifting, and the always wonderful Lothaire Bluteau is extraordinary as Jesus in the passion play, and as the actor who won't compromise his art for commercial success, and starts to acquire aspects of Jesus' character into his own.

On a lighter note, the "hot" dubbing scene early in the film is hilarious, and there are many other extremely humorous parts. The talented ensemble cast is superb, as good in the comedy as in the drama.

Perhaps this is not a film for those with strict beliefs, but if you can accept diverse views, it will move you on many different levels.

This is one of my favorite films but WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! the DVD I received from Amazon.com is in FRENCH ONLY and does NOT offer a sub-title track!!! Unless you speak French fluently DO NOT ORDER THIS EDITION!

I've deleted my earlier comments on the French-language-only DVD that was first released in North America. This brilliant film is now available in two separate versions: the original Quebecois French soundtrack and this edition with language options: the original French, dubbed English (I avoid this because I only ever knew this film in its subtitled version), and French, Spanish, or English subtitles (optional). There are also bilingual stereo and a French 5.1 surround sound audio mixes. Amazon has also finally separated the two releases in its listings and labeled them more clearly, so I hope this eliminates the confusion that formerly surrounded this DVD and led many to buy the "wrong" version, myself included. You'd have to be a pretty fluent francophone to catch all the nuances of this story without subtitles, and the Quebec patois is very different from the standard French taught in U.S. schools or spoken in France today.

Enough of the technicalities. And please overlook the tacky and possibly misleading DVD packaging, with copy blurbs that seem to miss the point and photos that fixate on the pretty Parisienne model to the exclusion of much else. I wholeheartedly recommend this film for anyone interested in exploring the story of Jesus. There is a lyricism and poignancy to Jesus of Montreal that is not to be found in Mel Gibson's snuff flick. Director/writer Arcand has crafted an extraordinarily skillful parallel script that not only re-presents the traditional Passion Play version of Jesus' life -- updated with challenging new assertions -- but also subtly and movingly reenacts it in modern Montreal, as the troupe of actors unwittingly find themselves walking in the footsteps of their theatrical alter-egos. This is marvelous filmmaking, and true art. Jesus of Montreal is one of those rare movies that will reveal something new to you with every viewing; the more familiar you are with the traditional Gospels, the more allegorical elements you will recognize. Sometimes this produces very amusing results -- I am particularly fond of the sequence where Daniel/Jesus (played to perfection by Lothaire Bluteau) is "tempted" by the Devil in the guise of a smooth-talking entertainment lawyer. And of course there is a terrific come-uppance for the "moneylenders in the temple".

Despite comical moments, this is a sad movie, with Daniel unable to escape his destiny. Jesus of Montreal concludes in a welter of suffering -- Calvary, the descent into the Underworld (literally -- another of Arcand's deft touches, and watch for the head of John the Baptist!), apocalyptic visions, and finally, disappearance from the world of man. Yet there is also the promise of redemption and resurrection, and of miracles unforeseen. Although the disciples are leaderless and bereft, vulnerable to the blandishments of the material world (with the notable exception of "Mary Magdalene"), there is still Hope shining beyond the touch of evil or folly, and the angels still sing for those who will hear them, even in the unlikeliest of places (the movie ends, in circular fashion, much as it begins).

A beautiful achievement. Jesus of Montreal may outrage some fundamentalists and more orthodox believers, confuse or bewilder others, and but it never fails to challenge, and its message of love and faith and its abiding honesty and humanity is needed now more than ever.

It's been quite a few years since I've seen this movie, but for some reason, I've recently started thinking about it and connecting all the dots. As much as I enjoyed it originally, I've developed a new appreciation of it. Other reviewers have described it well, so I'll just give an "Amen" to their praise. I now marvel at how subtly and ingeniously the film's makers made the characters surrounding the theater troupé mirror the characters surrounding the main people in the original Passion story. Could the people in the Gospels' account have been real flesh-and-blood people, and not just characters in a mythical morality tale? This film will convince you they could have been. All aspects of the production are excellent. Blutheau was superb as Daniel/Jesus. His motivations and actions are as inscrutible as those of the original Jesus. When Daniel died, nothing happened. Or did it? You decide. Just as you must decide concerning the original Jesus' death. A tantalizing and intrigueing movie.

Note: French with English subtitles.

A group of local Montreal actors rewrite the 'Passion Play' with an updated interpretation. Their passionate but unorthodox production stirs controversy within the Catholic Church and the community-at-large. As the pressure mounts, whether to perform or not to perform, the personal lives of the individual cast members begin to take on the persona of the characters in the play.

This transformation is most evident in Daniel (Lothaire Bluteau) who plays the role of Jesus. As the 'Life of Christ' unfolds around and within Daniel he eventually discovers the ultimate meaning of sacrificial love.

What a wonderfully original and inventive film! They just don't get any better than this. Imaginative script, superb acting (Catherine Wilkening in the role of Mireille is stunning), evocative cinematography and ethereal soundtrack (with Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance) all come together to bring this glorious modern day story of Jesus to life.

Jesus of Montreal is an allegory in which a troupe of actors experience the life of Jesus of Nazareth as they strive to rework a passion play to make it more contemporary and "relevant." I first saw the film in 1990, and it touched me deeply, challenging me to reconsider my understanding of Christian faith. Great art strikes home, and no other film has given me such cause to ponder. It remains my favorite film.

I need not repeat the analyses and praises of so many earlier reviewers. I do wish to add that I have watched this film numerous times with university students, undergraduate and graduate (as their professor) and with parishioners and colleagues (as a priest). The film never fails to touch the viewers profoundly and to provoke stimulating discussion amongst them, once the tears have been wiped away from their eyes. Often a student or parishioner will come back to me weeks or even months later to tell me how deeply the film moved him or her and how it provoked a nurturing spiritual examination of the inner self and outer behavior. Often they tell me that they have repeatedly rented the film or gone out and bought a copy for themselves.

I heartily recommend all of Denis Arcand's films as worth the viewing. I find him one of the most important film makers of our time, and I am saddened that he (a Canadian from Montreal) receives so little recognition in the United States.

This movie is a true masterpiece! It portrays the story of an artsy theatre group in their contraversal production based on the life of Jesus Christ. The characters are realistic and full of life. The cinematography is excellent and the story manages to send a timeless message into our modern life. I've watched it a dozen times and I never get tired of it! Every time I experience something new! This is a must see for any movie fan! It is a great tribute to the people of the fantastic City of Montreal and their culture!!!!! It's message is beautiful and easy to understand - no matter what language you speak!

« Jésus de Montréal » was a stunning, thought-provoking film by Montréalais director Denys Arcand. The strong ensemble cast includes Lothaire Bluteau ("Le confessional," "La robe noire") and Robert Lepage (famous Québec playwright, author of "Nô," and "The Seven Streams of the River Ota"). The story revolves around a series of actors: Constance (who works in a soup kitchen, plays Mary Magdalene and sleeps with the priest), Mireille (a sexy young actress whose sole talent, according to her ex, is in her backside), Martin and Réné, actors who dub porno films in French, and Daniel (Bluteau), a fragile young actor enlisted to play Jesus in a popular passion play. Bluteau is frail and androgynous to a certain degree, lending him an angelic quality. He is extremely soft-spoken and I often had to turn the volume up to hear him. His voice was barely above a whisper in many of the passion play scenes and near the end.

Daniel does extensive research into the life and times of Jesus, taking into account new archaeological findings. Instead of merely "updating" the passion play he, along with his fellow actors, rewrites it. Jesus is the son of a Roman soldier in the play, the crucifixion is performed accurately (naked, with the torso twisted to the side), and the Catholic priests are upset and demand an end to the passion play on the mount. Martin works in his Hamlet soliloquy "To sleep...perchance to dream..." in a scene that is strangely powerful as the resurrected Jesus comes to the disciples.

The normally mild mannered Daniel rebels at the treatment Mireille receives at an audition, and mirroring Jesus' disruption of the moneylenders in the temple in Matthew 21:12 ("And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of he money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves.") Daniel becomes irrational when the casting director (Mireille's ex-boyfriend) tells her to strip. Daniel orders her to refuse, then, flying into a rage knocks over tables, smashes cameras and monitors and causes thousands of dollars worth of damage. His life begins to mirror that of Jesus.

Lothaire Bluteau was the only choice for the role of Daniel/ Jesus. He becomes so involved in all of his roles that he walks a dangerous line. Robert Lepage says that he embodies and expresses emotional pain better than any actor in the world. Lothaire Bluteau says of himself that he still is struggling to learn to live with the searing pain he feels for real. According to a recent interview, "In person, the theatrical, charismatic, deeply analytical and cathartic Bluteau wears many emotional scars beneath his pale and skeletal physical armour. His immersion into the characters that have inhabited not only his physical being, but his emotional thoughts and each waking moment are the very extension of himself into some intangible realms. He readily admits that these fictional characters are always awaiting his presence to fill them and breathe life into their troubled existences." Ask Bluteau if he finds it difficult to achieve a separation point between the characters her portrays and himself and he frowns: "Sometimes I think I'm getting better at not drowning in the emotional sadness and the fear I have when I start working on a film or play. When you are enriched by your characters life, you do tend to share a lot of things together. They will call upon your emotions and leave you with souvenirs and old scars, that you manage to survive from. The character wants to borrow that pain, and of course there is a transformation and collar of sadness that you are attached to." So he is ultimately believable as a modern-day Jesus, preaching to the crowds at a Montréal subway station, chasing the "money lenders" out of the studio, and finally sacrificing his life so that others may live through him. The final scenes are unspeakably powerful as Daniel's message lives on.

There are moments of humour as well, irreverence towards Catholic doctrine and its unwillingness to change. When the priest informs them that they have to revert to the original script, Martin, Réné, Constance and Mireille begin an absurdly funny ad-lib update of the passion play. First Constance recites a line and makes it sound like a line from a porno dub, then Mireille turns it into une comédie française, Martin tries New York method acting, Réné vulgar joual, and Martin and Réné do a Kabuki version that had me in tears. It was the funniest thing I had seen in years. There are similar lighthearted moments between the actors/friends, but much of the story has a sombre tone.

The cinematography is spectacular, with enticing shots of Montréal at work and at play. The nighttime scenes are particularly effective, as are the passion play scenes. The music is sparse but haunting: an aria from Pergolesi's Stabat Mater that is sung at the end over the credits, and during the passion play we hear haunting music from Le mystère des voix bulgares. There is some nudity, although it is not sexual. There is a lot of offensive language, especially during the improv passion play, and during the porno dubbing scene (which is hilarious in a sad way). This is not a film for those who are devoutly religious or easily offended. The film is subtitled in English (with French subtitles over the English dialogue).

« Jésus de Montréal » explores the story of Jesus, updates it, gives it a fresh young face in the form of Daniel. What would happen if Jesus reappeared in the world today? Denys Arcand explores this through multiple Biblical parallels and imagery and a stellar supporting cast, also using the film as a vehicle to express his distaste of the all-consuming media and material greed. We see the transformation of a group of ordinary actors into Biblical beings who are profoundly changed by Daniel's/Jesus's presence in their lives. This film will leave you thinking for hours afterwards.

This film is by far the finest Christian analogy I have ever seen. The chasm between this film and any others in this genre is hard to stretch your brain across if you haven't seen the film. The analogy is never voiced; it's left to the viewer to infer, and is so powerful, that it touched even this Jew. The purpose of the analogy isn't to convert people to Christianity, so the film doesn't get bogged down in didacticism; the filmmakers have simply tapped into the potency of the gospel stories, which even a non-Christian can appreciate in a film that is well-made.

This film is well-made. The camera work is exquisite, and the performances of the three lead actors are outstanding. I won't cheapen them by saying they are "oscar quality," or anything like that. The actors don't seem to be working for pay or accolade, but because they wanted this film to be made. Lothaire Bluteau, in particular, the Jesus figure throws so much into everything, I can picture him after each take, like a dancer, or a boxer, flopping into his chair sweat-drenched, grabbing a water bottle, while his manager towels him down, and someone massages his shoulders.

The characters in the film come by their gospel alter-egos as out of work actors hired by a priest to pump up his parish passion play. Simple story right? The analogy has already begun to unfold, and the audience doesn't even know it yet; there's no hint of things to come.

I was fortunate to see this movie on the screen, but I have rented it since, forcing friends to watch it (they're never sorry). It will always be one of my favorites.