Must see movie

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

Before the Christmas season ends, make sure to see the movie, The Nativity Story.

The film, which was released last month after glowing reviews at a world premiere in the Vatican, is excellent viewing, especially for Christians.

While it hasn't been a blockbuster like Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, it too packs a punch on the meaning of the Incarnation and our redemption by a loving God.

The film opens quickly with the slaughter of the Holy Innocents by Herod's soldiers. It then flashes back 15 months as Zechariah prepares to enter the sanctuary of the Lord in the temple to offer incense. While there, an angel tells him that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son they are to name John. A skeptical Zechariah is struck mute.

The scene shifts to Nazareth where Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and other peasant children are working in the fields while Joseph (Oscar Isaac) practices his trade building houses.

The familiar story continues from there, mixing the narratives of Luke and Matthew. Because their accounts were relatively brief the writers created additional material, primarily by fleshing out the principal characters - Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Herod and the Magi.

They also show us what life was like in that time and place. For example, we see people living in small, dark, stone dwellings. We see peasants planting and harvesting, and their fear of soldiers and tax collectors, who showed no mercy and would seize land, animals and even family members when taxes could not be paid. We see murmurings about prophecies of the coming of a Messiah; the disdain Mary experienced as a woman pregnant before her time; plus Mary and Joseph's fears and concerns over the present and future.

There are deeply moving scenes, including Mary with Elizabeth; the birth and naming of John the Baptist; and Joseph's frantic efforts to find lodging for Mary, who is in labor, all the way through the birth of Jesus and the adoration of shepherds and Magi.

For me, the movie also had some false notes, especially the angelic apparitions, and a couple of the incidents meant to parallel and foreshadow happenings in Jesus' life. The journey to Bethlehem also was dragged out. But those are minor points that in no way diminish this movie. The cast - especially Mary and Joseph - are perfect.

Anyone begging Hollywood for uplifting, family entertainment now needs to support The Nativity Story by going to see it.