[31], In Canada, it won the Golden Reel Award, indicating the highest box-office performance of any Canadian film that year[32] with a gross of C$2.53 million in Canada. JESUS OF MONTREAL has been nominated for a record breaking sixteen Genie Awards in Canada and an Academy Award in the United States for best foreign film. This can be seen in a scene when a lawyer/agent tempts Daniel to risk his artistic strength in order to “possess the city,” and uses Ronald Reagan, as an example of Daniel’s prospects. [46][47], Critics in the Toronto International Film Festival ranked the film second in the Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time in 1993 and 2004 and fourth in 2015. [26] She reprised her role as Constance in Arcand's later films The Barbarian Invasions (2003) and Days of Darkness (2007). [19] Scholar Jeremy Cohen tied the Jewish doctor's statement "we lost him" to the idea of Jewish deicide. As the church turns against the main actor and auth… Get unlimited DVD Movies & TV Shows delivered to your door with no … Use the HTML below. [30] A substantial amount of theatrical blood was required for the Passion play scenes. This unconventional Canadian film focuses on an acting troupe hired to stage a Passion play about the life of Jesus. The story of the Jesus of Montreal is about a group of actors that interprets the story of Jesus and they find out the Jesus' life have an extraordinary impact on their real-life existence. A young girl is plucked from small-town obscurity and thrust into the spotlight of the glamorous world of super-models. When the play is performed, it receives excellent reviews from critics but is regarded as unconventional and controversial by Father Leclerc, who angrily distances himself from Daniel. Unknown actor Daniel (Bluteau) is asked by the Church to revive and revitalise a version of the Passion Play. He also includes arguments that the biological father of Jesus was a Roman soldier who left Palestine shortly after impregnating the unwed Mary. Although the play turns out to be a hit, it's shut down by the church for being too controversial, and in the eyes of the church, blasphemous. Only the help of a prostitute and a former biker released from jail might get him out of trouble. Jesus of Montreal Photos View All Photos (10) Movie Info. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. He said that the screenplay was complete and detailed, leaving less room for improvisation than he expected. [6], The idea for the film came to director Denys Arcand after an actor apologized for appearing with a beard at an audition at a Montreal conservatory, saying "I'm sorry, I'm Jesus. [14] The story begins when Daniel becomes a teacher to his actors, as Jesus was to his disciples. Another [20] At the end, Daniel's organs are donated to patients, equated to the Resurrection of Jesus. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. He later wrote and directed The Barbarian Invasions, which follows the final days of Rémy, a history professor, womanizer, and devout leftist who is dying of cancer in a Montreal hospital. Fandango FANALERT® Sign up for a FANALERT® to find out when tickets are available in your area. His physician states that they would have been able to save him if he had been brought to them half an hour earlier. What happens from there is far from ordianry. It asks the question Is art Imitating life, or is life imitating art?As the players deepen their roles,unexpected turn occur.So often movies with religious themes are schlock,treaclely spouting pious slogans that are void of life. Jesus of Montreal (French: Jésus de Montréal) is a 1989 French Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by Denys Arcand, and starring Lothaire Bluteau, Catherine Wilkening and Johanne-Marie Tremblay. [38], Jesus of Montreal enjoyed positive reviews, with a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. [16] Caryn James of The New York Times called the film "intelligent" and "audacious", particularly praising the first half "before it gives in to leaden, self-conscious Christ imagery". Denys Arcand(The Decline of the American Empire,1986; Love and Human Remains,1993), a founder of Canada's National Film Board, creates a contemporary passion play in the metropolitan streets of Montreal. Sexual revelations emerge when a group of academics and their partners spend a weekend at a country retreat. The film came out to critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the Genie Award for Best Picture and the Jury Prize at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. In Montreal, the wanderings of two urban homeless, Marcel, an old timer and Joseph, who just landed in the big city. [29], He claimed that while French Canadian churches in Montreal denied permission to shoot inside their buildings, an English language Catholic church allowed the crew to use its space. He leaves and collapses on a Montreal Metro platform. [45] In terms of religious response, Jesus of Montreal met "dead calm" on its release, in contrast to Scorsese's more controversial The Last Temptation of Christ. View production, box office, & company info. Online named it the third best "Jesus-inspired" film, calling it "beautiful" and "inventive". The film tells the story of an actor who gets the role of Jesus in a play, and begins to find his real life becoming more and more like the one he is portraying. [22] The film was made on a budget of $4.2 million,[1] with Arcand saying he got a "blank check" after his success with The Decline of the American Empire (1986). Jesus of Montreal is a 1989 French Canadian film about an actor, Daniel, hired to modernize a passion play. Add the first question. Despite immediate, skilled, and energetic efforts by the doctors and nurses, he is pronounced brain-dead. Jean-Marc Leblanc (Labrèche), a desperate civil servant, escapes reality as we all know it, to imagine himself as the hero in imaginary adventures. "Jesus of Montreal" is a beautiful film about the real meaning of spirituality. [25], Arcand saw actress Johanne-Marie Tremblay in Straight for the Heart (1988) and cast her as Constance, one of Daniel's actresses who takes him in to live with her. Jesus of Montreal begins with a suicide, or so it appears. His satirical look at the meaning of art and religion and the integrity of performing artists themselves is both poignant and insightful while at the same time humourous. The ideological decision to be anti-religion and pro-humanist has overcome good taste. Set in a dreary urban landscape of Edmonton, LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS is a dark comedy about a group of twentysomethings looking for love and meaning in the '90s. [13] Another actor named Pascal Berger, played by Cédric Noël, praises Daniel as John the Baptist hailed Jesus. It also won the Golden Reel Award as the highest-grossing Canadian film of the year and received nominations for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards and Golden Globes. A group of actors putting on an interpretive Passion Play in Montreal begin to experience a meshing of their characters and their private lives as the production takes form against the growing opposition of the Catholic church. Daniel's life is further complicated when he attends one of Mireille's auditions. In the Movie we can easily recognize the similarities between the story of Jesus and the Movie. The same ambulance takes him to the Jewish General Hospital. His doctor asks for the consent of his friends, since he has no known relatives, to take his organs for donation. His previous film was "The Decline Of The American Empire," in which a group of Montreal intellectuals gathered to prepare a meal and talk about the meanings of their lives; it was sort of a conversational version of "The Big Chill." Synopsis. [51] E! It was ranked in the top five in polls of the Top 10 Canadian films of all time conducted … Jesus of Montreal ★★★½ Jesus de Montreal 1989 (R)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. [37] In the U.S., Stephen J. Nichols referred to it as "not-very-popular" and said it was Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ "to dominate the 1980s" in dramatic portrayals of Jesus. [40] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote "Arcand has exposed a world that can't recognize its own hypocrisy or hear a voice in the wilderness". The DVD has biographies of the five main actors and the theatrical trailer. Jesus of Montreal. Bible Films Blog: Jesus of Montreal Posts on Matt Page’s Bible Films Blog relating to Jesus of Montreal. After his death, his eyes and heart are used to restore the health of other patients. [43] Entertainment Weekly gave the film a C-, questioning the controversy depicted in the film, saying "Hasn’t Canada, in the past 20 years, ever seen a single touring company of Jesus Christ, Superstar?" and claiming the film "flits between the smug and the ersatz mystical". In the wake of his death, Daniel's friends start a theatre company to carry on his work. [52], Jesus of Montreal won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival[53] and swept the 11th Genie Awards, winning 12 prizes,[54] including Best Motion Picture, Best Director for Arcand, and the Golden Reel Award. He said this was because, although church members asked to see the screenplay, they could not read French and needed money from the rental. Was this review helpful to you? "Denys Arcand Offers a 'Jesus' for the 1990's", "Jésus De Montréal (Jesus Of Montreal) (1989)", "The 62nd Academy Awards (1990) Nominees and Winners", "Film Not in the English Language in 1991", British Academy of Film and Television Arts, "Film and Video Awards: Toronto International Film Festival", Berkeley Library University of California, Arts & Faith: Top 100 Spiritually Significant Film list, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television for Best Motion Picture, The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesus_of_Montreal&oldid=1013640489, Best Picture Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Marcel Pothier, Laurent Lévy, Antoine Morin and Diane Boucher, This page was last edited on 22 March 2021, at 18:07. 5 of 5 people found this review helpful. Voila! I decided I had to make a film. [49] In 2010, British critic Mark Kermode named Bluteau as one of "The 10 best screen faces of Jesus," calling him "mesmerising" and praising the film as a "genuine masterpiece" and "real cinematic miracle". Jesus of Montreal [13] Daniel is mainly known to the public through "hearsay", and is reported to have traveled to India and Tibet, reflecting "extra-biblical legends" about Jesus. "Canadian Director Tries Loftier Topic After 'Decline': Movies: Denys Arcand wins praise and a prize at Cannes for 'Jesus de Montreal. [48] In 2003, Rob Mackie of The Guardian called the film "thought-provoking and wickedly funny" and said "Lothaire Bluteau, makes a charismatic focus whose performance makes sense of the whole thing". The film tells the story of a group of actors in Montreal who perform a Passion play in a Quebec church (the film uses the grounds of Saint Joseph's Oratory on Mount Royal), combining religious belief with unconventional theories on a historical Jesus. Film. During his final days, a dying man is reunited with old friends, former lovers, his ex-wife, and his estranged son. The act is actually staged as the dramatic finale of a stage play, but we only realize this as the man appears to dangle from the end of the rope and the audience (previously unseen and unheard) erupts into applause. It is a telling critique of institutionalized Christianity and a savage assault on the hallowed idols of modern western society. Pitted against the inflexibility of religious institutions, Daniel (played wonderfully by Lothaire Bluteau) shows his rag-tag disciples the real meaning behind the teachings of Jesus of … Time Out says. Rent Jesus of Montreal (1989) starring Lothaire Bluteau and Catherine Wilkening on DVD and Blu-ray. Jesus of Montreal: IMDb Page IMDb’s entry on Jesus of Montreal featuring full cast, crew etc. Set in cold rural Quebec at Christmas time, we follow the coming of age of a young boy and the life of his family which owns the town's general store and undertaking business. "Jesus of Montreal" is a movie from a director with intelligence and refined sensibilities. [25], The film was shot with mobile cameras on location in Montreal, which has many churches against its skyline and has been "a center of Catholicism since its beginnings". Title: The film tells the story of a group of actors in Montreal who perform a Passion play in a Quebec church (the film uses the grounds of Saint Joseph's Oratory on Mount Royal), combining religious belief with unconventional theories on a historical Jesus. As the church turns against the main actor and author of the play, his life increasingly mirrors the story of Jesus, and the film adapts numerous stories from the New Testament. 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. [41] Jonathan Rosenbaum called it a "must-see". Authors have written Jesus of Montreal has "many parallels" to the New Testament,[12] and "is so loaded with all sorts of fascinating allusions" between modern Quebec and the Gospels. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing Jesus of Montreal near you. It asks the question Is art Imitating life, or is life imitating art?As the players deepen their roles,unexpected turn occur.So often movies with religious themes are schlock,treaclely spouting pious slogans that are void of life. What happens from there is far from ordianry. Jesus de Montreal is successful on many levels, from biblical parallels to Christ's own legendary life to the challenging views on religion adopted by many people today. (In this country, the Canadian's best-known work is "The Decline of American Civilization.") A fact-based account of ordinary citizens who found themselves arrested and imprisoned without charge for weeks during the October Crisis in 1970 Quebec. "Jesus of Montreal" was written and directed by Denys Arcand, the best of the new generation of Quebec filmmakers. For Thought/Discussion: 1. [50] In 2014, Marc-Andre Lussier of the Montreal-based La Presse called the film excellent. In Montreal, an unknown actor named Daniel is hired by a Roman Catholic site of pilgrimage ("le sanctuaire") to present a Passion play in its gardens. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. [28] Arcand stated he often shot Montreal from a distance or from the air to represent God viewing the city. [24], As a lapsed Catholic and self-proclaimed atheist, Arcand did not envision Jesus of Montreal as a religious film, adding, "In my film, the story of the Passion is a metaphor of an artist and his struggles and temptations. [33] It went on to gross C$3 million. When the higher authorities of the Roman Catholic Church strongly object to his Biblical interpretation and security forcibly stops a performance, the audience and actors object and he is injured in an ensuing accident. This film is much more passionate, and angrier. Despite working with material others consider to be clichéd, Daniel is inspired and carries out intensive academic research, consulting archaeology to check the historicity of Jesus and drawing on supposed information on Jesus in the Talmud, using the Talmud name Yeshua Ben Pantera for Jesus, whom he portrays. Written by Jesus of Montreal (French: Jésus de Montréal) is a 1989 French Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by Denys Arcand, and starring Lothaire Bluteau, Catherine Wilkening and Johanne-Marie Tremblay. This month I'm discussing Denis Arcand's Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal). Description of this film with trailer video. “Jesus of Montreal” is more than a retelling of the ancient story; it is a reinterpretation of the old Gospel story for those who are satisfied neither with the traditional church nor with the shallow values of contemporary society. (Director: Denys Arcand) You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Jesus of Montreal is an inventive, witty, and illuminating religious work of art. Find out where Jesus of Montreal is streaming, if Jesus of Montreal is on Netflix, and get news and updates, on Decider. Daniel is first taken by ambulance to a Catholic hospital where he is neglected. The film focuses on ... See full summary ». Scene Analysis: Jesus of Montreal The French-Canadian film, ‘ Jesus Of Montr é al ,’ which was released in 1989, is a political drama, written and directed by Denys Arcand. [22] This budget was unusually large for a Quebec film. 18 wins & 11 nominations. [1] Some scenes were shot near Saint Joseph's Oratory. Looking to watch Jesus of Montreal? Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. [27], Robert Lepage, who played René, one of Daniel's "disciples", was a playwright and said that aside from TV and student films, Jesus of Montreal was his first major acting role. Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival-Wikipedia. The film was also nominated for the 1989 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. ENTER CITY, STATE OR ZIP CODE GO. Jesus of montreal is a deceptively simple premise: an out of work actor is hired to resucitate an annual Passion play in a Monteral church. [36] Generally, the film did not meet expectations in drawing audiences in countries with predominantly Roman Catholic populations, with Arcand claiming using the name Jesus in the title made the subject matter appear cliché. 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. [9][18] After he is injured, Daniel is taken to the Jewish General Hospital. Canada Enters International Feature Film Oscar Race With Deepa Mehta’s ‘Funny Boy’, Orion Classics Relaunches At MGM With Kate Bosworth Film ‘The Domestics’ As First Release, Canada's 150th Anniversary - Top 250 Movies, At the Movies: Beauty and the Beast/Black Robe/My Girl/Meeting Venus. His banker son, ex-wife, and friends old and new gather to… (1989). [16][17] In the subsequent criminal case, Daniel has a Pontius Pilate-like judge played by Arcand,[11] and meets a lawyer played by Yves Jacques who – looking out over the city from a skyscraper – offers Daniel profit and fame, telling him "The city is yours," which is a reference to the Temptation of Christ. This FAQ is empty. [42] David Denby of New York felt Jesus of Montreal was "smug from the beginning",[12] but the film was not boring thanks to Arcand's "theatricality and skill". A group of actors putting on an interpretive Passion Play in Montreal begin to experience a meshing of their characters and their private lives as the production takes form against the growing opposition of the Catholic church. Not Yet Rated 1 hr 59 min May 17th, 1989 Drama. The priest, Father Leclerc, asks him to "modernize" the classic play the church has been using, which he considers dated. Washington Post Review by Hal Hinson — Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? These awards and nominations demonstrate the impoverished state of the film community. Marcel, recently released from prison, attempt to rebuild his relationship with his girlfriend Julie (now a prostitute) and especially his father Albert (who thinks he's been away on a long... See full summary », Young Leo Lauzon is torn between two worlds - the squalid Montreal tenement that he inhabits with his severely dysfunctional (and largely insane) family, and the imaginative world that he ... See full summary ». What scene stands out in your memory? This film is rarely trite or predictable, taking the viewer on a powerful journey which explores personal morality and realistic and idealistic conventions of Christianity.
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