GRADE: 9.5
The life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew. Pasolini shows Christ as a Marxist avant-la-lettre and therefore uses half of the text of Matthew.
Original Title: Il vangelo secondo Matteo
Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Country of Origin: Italy | France
Thoughts:
A tough, neorealist telling of the story of Christ, more akin with The Last Temptation of Christ than The Greatest Story Ever Told. Pasolini depicts Christ as a young Marxist—angry at the hypocrisy and injustices of the world around him. The non-professional actors and use of anachronist blues music makes the story come to life, and the locations and cinematography are exciting in the rawness and simplicity. As a non-believer, the film’s political focus an naturalistic representation makes the story accessible to me, and there’s no denying Pasolini’s unique and potent vision.