Jesus of Montreal

Amazon.com

What happens to the people putting on a Passion Play? Someday Mel Gibson may tell us, but Denys Arcand's Jesus of Montreal proposes an engaging possibility. In hip present-day Montreal, a group of actors stages the Passion in an outdoor, somewhat avant-garde style, led by the quietly charismatic and increasingly uncanny young man (Lothaire Bluteau, Black Robe) playing Christ. His identification with the role, and the way it bleeds into real life, gives director Denys Arcand plenty of opportunities for social comment--some of it spot-on, some of it a little facile. But the fragile Bluteau is such a fascinating lead presence (the other actors are familiar from Arcand's Barbarian Invasions and Decline of the American Empire) that the movie's spell lasts long after it's over. Turns out the French-Canadian approach to the Passion can be just as intriguing as the original Aramaic. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

A Terrific Allegory.......2007-09-14

SPOILER ALERT: THIS REVIEW WILL TALK ABOUT THE ENDING OF THE MOVIE!!

"Jesus of Montreal" is a remarkable acheivement in dramatic structure: it uses a passion play as a framework on which to fashion a passion play. It's all here: the appearance of a charismatic figure who is chosen, almost apart from his own will, to be a religious teacher, but who not only embraces the opportunity but radically alters the message to present a new view of the religion; who calls around him followers who devote themselves to him and to communicating his vision, but who after his death are tempted by opportunities to assert themselves; who delivers one of his followers from humilating punishment (with stripping for a director substituted for stoning) and who follows that up by destroying the valuables of those who would devalue a human spirit; who endures persecution from the religious establishment; and who dies for his message. In fact, the medical use of his body parts is a nearly literal transubstantiation of his body to heal those who never even knew him. The movie is critical of the religious establishment -- as a Christian myself, I would not think much of a religion that cannot stand up to scrutiny. Director Denys Arcand has made a wonderful and (dare I say it) reverent life of Christ in the guise of a story about a group of actors presenting an unconventional passion play. I don't know that you will love this movie as much as I do, but I assure you that if you give it a chance, it will not leave you unmoved. (I wish they would put it out in a widescreen version, however, even though that means I would have to buy it a third time!)

when will this be released in widescreen?.......2007-08-15

This most important Jesus film has recently been released in England by Arrow in a widescreen version with 1/2 hour interview with Denys Arcand. Why oh why has it taken so long to get a widescreen version of this award-winning film in the US??

makes you think.......2007-08-15

Of all the movies about Jesus, I find this one to be the most thought provoking. Translating the passion story into a modern day setting is a tricky task and Denys Arcand does a great job. As a random group of actors attempt to produce the Passion play for the Catholic Church, they unknowingly begin to live the Passion story in their own lives. Through the creative parallels, which are at times blatantly obvious and at other times subtle enough to require multiple viewings, the audience is encouraged to entertain the question of what the Jesus story would look like in our world today. Who would Jesus be friends with? Who would be an enemy of Jesus? How would Jesus interact with unjust social systems and institutions? All of these are crucial questions for us to be asking, and this film provides a good foundation for that conversation.

The strong point of this film is not its theology, but its ability to ask questions. It definitely comes out of the liberal historical-critical stream of study, and one should be aware of that influence when watching this film. However, this does not discount the questions it asks and the conversations it begins. I find it encouraging, as a Christian, to see a film like this which so honestly addresses the meaning of Christ to our world today.

A must see movie.......2007-05-09

I saw this movie around 1990 in VHS format. As I grew up in Montreal I found it easy to relate to everything in the movie.

I agree with all the positive reviews. I would add only that the movie I saw hadboth English and French dialog, the English sub titles were excellent and give the full flavor of the French dialogue.

If you find it hard to understand that religious people are also humans, then you may find the movie shocking.

The Only PrObLeM.........2007-02-20

With thiS is that it's not iN English.This is not a flaw.ThEre's a scene where Jesus hits someone and that's not cool.BuT he's a human.The characters take on a life of their own wheN they put on A Passion plaY about Jesus death and find themselves taking on the rolE of those charaters. FIne dialogue at the bottom of the screen in ENglish. I Must make this 5 stars.There iS humor, there's love, there's so many symbolic references to situations found iN the Bible it's incrediBle.Scrubs is a good comedy.Suzanne Vega's first cd is brilliant crafted folk, and this movie, is among my favorites. Ranks with High intellectual films such as "jacob's LAdder." And my favorite film is also "Not WithOut My Daughter." I love you let's watch this film and the above I mentioned and Learn! Carry on Noble warriors in this film and iN any great film."Ghost Rider's" not alone in the film category of Hotties: The actresses in this are fine looking. Some bad language in a scene, but be ready: Look beyond and LeArn:Even if your a fundamentalist Christian, this movie's rich and dear.

Denys Arcand 4-DVD Collection (Le Déclin de l'empire américain / Jésus de Montréal / Amour et restes humains / Les Invasions barbares) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]

Average customer rating:

Denys Arcand 4-DVD Collection (Le Déclin de l'empire américain / Jésus de Montréal / Amour et restes humains / Les Invasions barbares) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]
Director: Denys Arcand
Manufacturer: Roadshow
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000LQHGO6

Product Description

"Australia released, PAL/Region 4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain) : Four university teachers gather to prepare a dinner. Remy - married, Claude - homosexual, Pierre - girlfriend and Alain - a bachelor discuss sex, the female body and their affairs with them. Their guests Louis, Dominique, Diane and Danielle are waiting at a health gym. They also discuss sex, the female body and, naturally, men. Later in the evening they meet and have dinner. The discussion? Well, you can guess it... The Decline of the American Empire / Jesus of Montreal / Love & Human Remains / The Barbarian Invasions Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal): 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. Love & Human Remains (Amour et restes humains): Set in a dreary urban landscape of an anonymous Canadian city, LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS is a dark comedy about a group of twentysomethings looking for love and meaning in the '90s. The film focuses on roommates David, a gay waiter who has has given up on his acting career, and Candy, a book reviewer who is also David's ex-lover. The Barbarian Invasions: Having a difficult time accepting the reality of death and feeling regretful of his past, a man dying of cancer tries to find peace in his last moments. His estranged son, ex-wife, ex-lovers and old friends will all come to him to share his last breath. SPECIAL FEATURES: Multi-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Box Set, "

Jesus of Montreal (French language only) (Import)

Average customer rating:

A Terrific Allegory
when will this be released in widescreen?
makes you think
A must see movie
The Only PrObLeM..

Jesus of Montreal (French language only) (Import)
Starring: Christine-Ann Atallah , Paule Baillargeon , Boris Bergman , Lothaire Bluteau , and Valérie Gagné
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000065SGY
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Terrific Allegory.......2007-09-14

when will this be released in widescreen?.......2007-08-15

makes you think.......2007-08-15

A must see movie.......2007-05-09

The Only PrObLeM.........2007-02-20

Average customer rating:

A Terrific Allegory
when will this be released in widescreen?
makes you think
A must see movie
The Only PrObLeM..

Jésus de Montréal

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00009W36A

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Terrific Allegory.......2007-09-14

when will this be released in widescreen?.......2007-08-15

makes you think.......2007-08-15

A must see movie.......2007-05-09

The Only PrObLeM.........2007-02-20

Jesus de Montreal ( Original French Version )

Average customer rating:

A Canadian forgotten gem!

Jesus de Montreal ( Original French Version )

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0002LXSKG

Product Description

( Original French Version ) 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.

Customer Reviews:

A Canadian forgotten gem!.......2005-10-13

This picture narrates the efforts of a young actor to incarnate Jesus in a theatrical stage; this weird premise will arouse a wide support of all the community against the bureaucratic environment with the expected and ominous consequences this daring attitude will entail.

An immediate cult movie since it was released. A very original proposal that transcends the colloquial anecdote that made me remind this talented director. Hence it did not surprise me the forceful, coveted and deserved Academy Award for Barbarian invasions. A personal triumph of Denyse Arcand.

DVD:

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