sol- Asked to helm a stage play about the life of Jesus Christ that would appeal to modern audiences, a Montreal stage actor sparks controversy when his play proves a success due to its blasphemous nature in this Canadian drama. While there are some amusing moments early on (especially as he sets about recruiting actors who dub adult films), the movie is rather slow to warm up with the juice of the material only really emerging in the film's second half. That said, 'Jesus of Montreal' is encapsulating at its best as the protagonist becomes more and more like Christ while rehearsing (and playing) the role and as the Church figures start to show their real colours with their sponsoring of his show; "not everyone can afford psychoanalysis, so they come here" bluntly states one such official at a pivotal point. There is also much to like in how innovative the play is, with audience members literally walking around as the cast members change location, and there is a fun irony in how the play captures larger audiences than anything else ever sponsored by the Catholic Church, though for what they believe to be the wrong reasons. Some elements of the film may be a little over-the-top, such as an angry fit during an advert audition; one's mileage may also vary depending on one's familiarity with the biblical elements paralleled here, but this is generally solid stuff.

gavin6942 A group of actors put on an unorthodox, but acclaimed Passion Play which incites the opposition of the Catholic Church while the actors' lives themselves begin to mirror the Passion itself.I imagine what makes this movie so appreciated is its parallels between the Bible stories and the lives of the actors. And, indeed, this is interesting and surely required some clever writing and whatnot.But what made it enjoyable for me was the exploration of the controversy. Who was the real Jesus? Who was his father? Did he have a beard? What do we really know about him? Without being blasphemous, I think the film touched on some important points, because what we generally believe may not be the same as what the record reveals.

david-sarkies This is a very popular movie and was thrilled when I saw that it was being shown on SBS on Good Friday. It is about a man who is hired by the Catholic Cathedral in Montreal to put on a fresher rendition of the passion play but his ideas end up causing a lot of controversy among the priests while bringing thousands to see it. The film itself parallels the life of Christ, even though some of the concepts in the film are incredibly controversial.Arcand questions the origins of the gospels, saying that Jesus existed through the evidence of other Roman writers, there is absolutely no doubt about that. With the gospels though, he says that there is little to trust in them because the disciples are flagrant liars. It is interesting though that only two of the gospels were written by the disciples, that is Matthew and John, while the remaining two gospels were written from second hand accounts, that is Luke and Mark. These accounts obviously were written by talking to hundreds of witnesses, as Luke says at the beginning of his gospel: Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also for me to write an orderly account for you, Theopilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things that you have been taught (Luke 1:1-4).I guess in a way it is the parallels that are important. The Catholic Church relies much more upon their tradition that upon the word of God. The priest who was asked to do the play has lost his faith and now only sees the Church as a structure for the poor. I have seen far more in the Church than simply poor people coming because they cannot afford the luxuries of society. I have seen one of the most powerful Lawyers in Australia and one of the twelve managing directors of Woolworths give themselves to Christ and follow his leadership. If this is the case then there is much more to Christ than simply relief for the poor.Jesus of Montreal is a very existentialist film, but also there an undermining of this philosophy. Arcand seems to create a whole feeling of meaninglessness in a beautifully portrayed account of the universe. The whole passion play shows an idea of possible hope and Christ says that he is king and will establish his kingdom, though Pilate comes out with a description of death, saying that he does not know what lies behind death and it could be nothing more than an empty black hole. We see Pilate addressing Christ as if he were a human and not God.We see another parallel in the way that the people love the play while the Church, who organises the play, hate it. Arcand beautifully merges the play with the movie around him as the central figure attacks the priests using Christ's words. We also see the climax come as Daniel Coulomb is illegally performing the play and as the church security attempts to shut it down his cross is knocked down and his head is crushed. The hospital he is taken to is crowded and he is released without any treatment. There are parallels between Christ and Coulomb with the fact that nobody knows anything about him, he has no past and rises to fame quickly only to be killed by those who find offence at his plays. He stands up for his friend, going as far as destroying a film studio like Christ destroys a marketplace in the temple who are ripping people off.This movie is phenomenal and it raises many questions. That is another theme in the movie, questions. There are always questions raised, the nature of the universe, the formula for Coke, the exact nature of the passion play. Where did Christ come from and was he just a good teacher and a magician or his he more. We see in the movie that Christ makes a blind woman see and raises somebody from the dead, this is paralleled at the end when Coulomb's heart and eyes give new hope for those who thought they had none. Jesus of Montreal is an incredibly powerful movie, more powerful that any that I have seen of late. It does not truly portray the Christian message, though it tells us that Christ when to the cross to carry the burden of our sins. This is not important though, but more that the must be some hope in an empty, existentialist world.

Leos Erp Brilliant piece of movie, especially fragments of road show! Movie talks about basic human values, vs. hypocrisy of the religion and society; talks about real artists and affectation of mediocrity found in show business, relationships and art. A movie that doesn't belong to high profit type of Hollywood junk production for wide masses. It contains bright and simple thoughts, for the way to soul calmness that we have forgotten... The real religion is the one, there aren't institution and leaders, only human being and love. This is movie about urban kind of the Christ, but Christ isn't person, Christ is a state of soul. Everyone can do it with simplicity, truth and liberty of your life. God is in you, not on the sky or in church corporations! Love&Sun, LeOS