Jesus of Montreal Movie Review 1989

A vagrant young actor (stage-trained Canadian star Bluteau) is hired by a Montreal priest to produce a fresh interpretation of an Easter passion play. Taking the good book at its word, he produces a contemporized literal telling that captivates audiences, inflames the men of the cloth, and eventually wins the players' faith. Quebecois director Arcand (keep an eye out for him as the judge) tells a compelling, acerbically satirical and haunting story that never forces its Biblical parallels. In French with English subtitles.

Distribution

Facets Multimedia, Inc., 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, Phone: (773)281-9075, Toll-free: 800-331-6197, Fax: (773)929-5437, Email: sales@facets.org, URL: http://www.facets.org

Available on VHS
Running time 119 minutes.
Originally from French, Canadian.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Stagestruck, Nuns & Priests, Montreal, Easter

Screenplay

Denys Arcand

Cast

Gilles Pelletier, Lothaire Bluteau, Catherine Wilkening, Robert Lepage, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Remy Girard, Marie-Christine Barrault

Cinematography

Guy Dufaux

Director

Denys Arcand

Music

Jean-Marie Benoit, Francois Dompierre, Yves Laferriere

Producer

Roger Frappier, Orion Pictures

Awards

Cannes 1989: Special Jury Prize; Genie 1990: Actor (Girard), Director (Arcand), Film, Support. Actor (Girard).