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The Nativity Story

It’s another Bible story brought to life for people who don’t like to read (also known as My People), but doesn’t have the controversy of Mel Gibson attached to it, so you can buy a ticket without dodging protestors or feeling some guilt.  Plus, I hope Jesus takes into consideration how I like the movie about his Mom, and that scores me some points in heaven.  I could use them.   

Keisha Castle-Hughes stars as Mary – a young teen in Nazareth working on the family farm, where she makes and sells goat cheese.  Like other families of the time, they are suffering under the brutal regime of King Herod (Ciaran Hinds), and could use some extra help to pay the onerous taxes collected by his violent henchmen.  Mary’s father arranges for her to marry an older man, Joseph (Oscar Isaac), so he can contribute to their well being and help the farm become more financially lucrative, but the couple soon faces a new challenge.  The angel Gabriel (Alexander Siddig) appears to Mary and tells her she will be giving birth to the son of God, Jesus Christ.    

Will Mary be able to handle such great responsibility?  Will she be punished by the townspeople, who think she has become pregnant through immoral behavior?  Will King Herod and his henchmen find her before she gives birth to a savior who will inspire the people to challenge his reign?

The Nativity Story excels when focused on Mary and Joseph’s struggles, but loses its mojo when attention is diverted to other stories, like The Three Wise Men and Elizabeth.  Director Catherine Hardwicke overdoes it at times with constant, old fashioned music crying out to the audience that this is weighty and important stuff, when we can sense the danger and drama without the music pounding us over the head with it.  Also, writer Mike Rich and Hardwicke make a huge mistake with the portrayal of The Three Wise Men.

These important and supposedly scholarly WISE men come off more like The Three Stooges as they argue about the journey ahead of them and read signs that the prophesy will be fulfilled.  While trying so hard to impress the importance of the story on the audience, it’s odd that Hardwicke and company choose The Three Wise Men as comic relief.  However, Hardwicke overcomes those issues to make a compelling film.

The Nativity Story isn’t about amazing sets and special effects.  Hardwicke and Rich add some well placed and needed heart and emotion to a story that traditionally focuses more on the events.  They make it into a love story as the hardship and the challenges the couple face draw them closer together.  We see the young, scared Mary gain an appreciation for the sacrifices, ridicule and danger Joseph must endure as she claims to have become pregnant via immaculate conception, and they try to sneak away to Bethlehem to escape certain danger in Nazareth.  We see Joseph make a huge leap of faith and show some trust in his wife under dire circumstances.  They emerge from the story as whole, interesting human beings.

Without a doubt, The Nativity Story will play best to Christian audiences, but has enough story and drama for a diverse audience.  

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