Zeffirelli’s version of Gospels

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 19

Zeffirelli’s version of Gospels

In a small synagogue in the village of Nazareth in the heart of Galilee, Rabbi Yehuda reads from the Scriptures about the promises made by the prophets of the coming of the Messiah, who will deliver Israel from oppression and establish everlasting peace. . Among the villagers is a carpenter, Joseph, who is about to be betrothed to a young girl. Mary Thus begins the story of “Jesus Of Nazareth." directed by Franco Zeffirelli. The first of this four-part mini-series begins on One tonight. The story of Jesus Christ has been told in dramatic form many times, on film in such productions as "King of Kings," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," “The Gospel According to St Matthew,” and "The Messiah." and on stage in the musicials “Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Godspell-" Zeffirelli says: "My approach to the story of Jesus is based on the four Gospels, rather than on any one of them as has been the case in previous productions. “I have also specially emphasised the Jewishness of Jesus and attempted an accurate re-creation of the Palestinian background at the time.

“Jesus, in my film, is seen both as a man and as the Son of God. His crucifixion has been represented in visual terms which make it- very different from the conventional idea that has been handed down throughout the centuries, principally by the portrayal of the event by great artists." The producer. Vrncenzo Labella, says: "We strove to get the utmost in history and realism. My idea was to take the story of Jesus, about whose actual biography we know only what the Gospels tell us. arid set it realistically between two historical contexts. the Roman and the Jewish, and achieve by reflection as much accuracy as possible." The realism both men aimed for in "Jesus of Nazareth" is reflected early on in the production at the Nativity. When filming this scene Zefffrelli was particularly keen to show the Virgin Mary (Olivia Hussey) and Joseph (Yorgo Voya’gis) as two poor villagers Lost in the chaos of a crowded town. One thing which makes “Jesus of Nazareth” different from other productions about Christ's life, is that in it, Jesus is not shown carrying His own cross to Calvary. Research into Roman

methods of crucifixion produced some surprising facts, as Vincenzo Labella explains: “What Christ actually carried was a crosspiece, or ‘patibulum.’ Made of roughlyhewn oak, this alone would have weighed 80 pounds (36 kg), enough to make Jesus stagger. “It would have been absolutely impossible for any man to carry in addition a three-metre pole or 'stipes.' That would weight more than 500 pounds (227. kg). "According to our research the upright pole, the 'stipes,' was a fixed structure upon which the crosspiece was suspended. The victims were tied and nailed to the ‘patibulum' on the ground and then hauled up by ropes and hooked on the centre post." Christ's betrayer. Judas (lan McShane), is portrayed more sympathetically than before. In previous stage and screen interpretations. Judas has usually been depicted as the man who sold Jesus for money. lan McShane evaluated the character thoroughly, and has painted him with lighter shades of grey.

"there is no doubt that Judas did betray Christ," he says, "but I do not think for a moment that he looked upon it as a betrayal. I really think that Judas loved and believed in Christ. His great defect Was that he tried to manipulate Christ in order to bask in His reflected glory. He felt Christ was who He 'said He was. and that in the end neither the Romans nor the Sanhedrin could do Him harm."

Mary Magdalene (Anne Bancroft) is another character whom Zeffirelli wanted portrayed differently. Anne Bancroft explains: "He wanted me to play Mary Magdalene like a painted-up. middle-aged whore. It"s going to shake up traditional thinking quite a bit because religion in general has so far treated Magdalene with kid gloves. Until now, she was what is delicately known as a 'fallen' or 'sinful' woman. Nothing more specific than that.

“Magdalene was so torn by mental and physical sickness that she desperately hung around in the crowd just to get a glimpse of Jesus. I think Franco is right in not having her stand out too much, and leave her in the background like an ‘extra.’ Jesus knows all this, of course, and when forgiveness finally touches her she becomes. another person — a woman so. full of spirit that a flame burns within her. The thing that saved her is love."