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THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, 1988: ANALYSIS
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THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST,
1988: ANALYSIS
Authored By - MERLIN
MADHUMITHA.JK,
B.A.LLB(hons)-3rd Year,
School Of Excellence In Law,
The Tamilnadu Dr Ambetkar Law
University, Chennai.
ABSTRACT:
The Last Temptation of Christ is a
1988 epic religious drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and Written by Paul
Schrader with uncredited rewrites from Scorsese and Jay Cocks. It is an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis'
controversial 1955 novel of the same name. The film, starring Willem Dafoe,
Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Andre Gregory, Harry Dean Stanton and David
Bowie.
This film was shot entirely in
Morocco, Under the cinematography of " Micheal ballhaus".
It is a 7 million dollars budget film
and it box was around 33.8 million dollars which is distributed by The
Universal pictures (United States) and Cineplex Odean films (Canada).
The movie offers a unique and
thought-provoking interpretation of the life of Jesus Christ. It explores
complex themes and challenges traditional perspectives, sparking meaningful
discussions. The performances and direction are commendable.
The film depicts the life of Jesus
Christ and his struggle with various forms of temptation including fear, doubt,
depression, reluctance, and lust. The book and the film depict Christ being
tempted by imagining himself engaged in sexual activities, which caused outrage
from some Christians. It includes a disclaimer stating: "This film is not
based on the Gospels, but upon the fictional exploration of the eternal spiritual
conflict."
This movie is not accepted by few
groups of people especially Christians as it potrays Jesus to be in a state of
suffering from proving himself as messiah.
INTRODUCTION:
"The Last Temptation of
Christ" is a 1988 film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the
novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. The movie explores the life of
Jesus Christ, including his struggles with temptation and his ultimate
sacrifice on the cross. It stars Willem Dafoe as Jesus and received both
critical acclaim and controversy upon its release.
The story tell about Jesus, A humble
judean carpenter begining to see that he is the son of God, is drawn into
revolutionary action against the Roman occupiers by Judas. Despite his
protestations that love, not violence is the path to salvation. The burden of
being the saviour of mankind torments Jesus throughout his life, leading him to
doubt. As he is put to death in the cross, Jesus is tempted by visions of an
ordinary life married to Mary Magdalene.
The movie presents a fictionalised
version of Jesus' life and includes scenes that deviate from traditional
biblical accounts.
It includes a disclaimer stating:
"This film is not based on the Gospels, but upon the fictional exploration
of the eternal spiritual conflict."
Like the novel it was based on, the
film generated controversy from Christian religious groups at the time of its
release, who took issue with its departures from the Gospel narratives.
PLOT:
Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter in
Roman-occupied Judea, is torn between his own desires and his knowledge of
God's plan for him. His friend Judas Iscariot is sent to kill him for
collaborating with the Romans to crucify Jewish rebels, but suspects that Jesus
is the Messiah and asks him to lead a war of liberation against the Romans.
While Jesus assures him that his message is one of love for mankind, Judas
warns him not to harm the rebellion.
Jesus starts preaching after saving
prostitute Mary Magdalene from a stoning and being baptized by John the
Baptist. He acquires disciples, some who want freedom from the Romans while
Jesus maintains people should tend to matters of the spirit. Jesus goes into
the desert to test his connection to God, where he resists temptation by Satan.
Returning from the desert, Jesus is
nursed back to health by Martha and Mary of Bethany, who encourage him to marry
and have children.
After performing miracles, including
raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus's ministry reaches Jerusalem, where he
chases out money lenders from the temple. He begins bleeding from his hands,
which he recognizes as a sign that he must die on the cross to bring salvation
to mankind and instructs Judas to give him to the Romans. Jesus convenes his
disciples for a Passover seder, whereupon Judas leads a contingent of soldiers
to arrest Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Although acknowledging his virtues
and their significance, Pontius Pilate tells Jesus that he must be put to death
as he represents a threat to the Roman Empire; he is subsequently flogged,
mocked and taken to be crucified.
While on the cross, a young lady who
claims to be Jesus's guardian angel tells him that, while he is the Son of God,
he is not the Messiah and that God is pleased with him and wants him to be
happy. She brings him down off the cross and, invisible to others, takes him to
Mary Magdalene, whom he marries. They live a happy life, but when she abruptly
dies, Jesus is consoled by his angel and goes on to start a family with Mary
and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. As an older man, Jesus encounters the
apostle Paul preaching about the Messiah and tries to tell him that he is the
man about whom Paul has been preaching. Paul repudiates him, saying that even
if Jesus had not died on the cross, his message was the truth, and nothing
would stop him from proclaiming that. Jesus debates him, stating that salvation
cannot be founded on lies.
Near the end of his life, with
Jerusalem in the throes of rebellion, an elderly dying Jesus calls his former
disciples to his bed. When Judas comes he reveals Jesus's guardian angel is
actually Satan, who tricked him into believing he did not have to give himself
up to save the world. Crawling back through the burning city, Jesus reaches the
site of his crucifixion and begs God to let him fulfill his purpose, stating:
"I want to be the Messiah!" Jesus then finds himself once more on the
cross, having overcome the "last temptation" of escaping death, being
married and raising a family, and the ensuing disaster that would have consequently
encompassed mankind. Jesus cries out: "It is accomplished!", and
dies.
CAST:
l Willem Dafoe as Jesus
l Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot
l Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene
l Harry Dean Stanton as Saul/Paul of
Tarsus
l David Bowie as Pontius Pilate
l Steve Shill as Centurion
l Verna Bloom as Mary, mother of Jesus
l Roberts Blossom as Aged Master
l Barry Miller as Jeroboam
l Gary Basaraba as Andrew
l Irvin Kershner as Zebedee
l Victor Argo as Peter
l Paul Herman as Philip
l John Lurie as James
l Michael Been as John
l Leo Burmester as Nathaniel
l Andre Gregory as John the Baptist
l Tomas Arana as Lazarus
l Alan Rosenberg as Thomas
l Nehemiah Persoff as Rabbi
l Peter Berling as Beggar
l Leo Marks as Satan
l Martin Scorsese as Isaiah
l Juliette Caton as Girl Angel
l Peggy Gormley as Martha
l Randy Danson as Mary
PRODUCTION AND MUSIC:
Scorsese had wanted to make a film
version of Jesus' life since childhood. While he was directing Barbara Hershey
in the 1972 film Boxcar Bertha, she gave him a copy of the Kazantzakis novel.
Scorsese optioned the book in the late 1970s, and he gave it to Paul Schrader
to adapt. The Last Temptation of Christ was originally to be Scorsese's
follow-up to The King of Comedy; production was slated to begin in 1983 for
Paramount, with a budget of about $14 million and shot on location in Israel.
The original cast included Aidan Quinn as Jesus, Sting as Pontius Pilate, Ray
Davies as Judas Iscariot and Vanity as Mary Magdalene. Management at Paramount
and its then parent company, Gulf+Western, grew uneasy due to the ballooning
budget for the picture and protest letters received from religious groups. The
project went into turnaround, and was finally cancelled in December 1983.
Scorsese went on to make After Hours instead.
In 1986, Universal Studios became
interested in the project. Scorsese offered to shoot the film in 58 days for $7
million, and Universal eventually greenlighted the production, as Scorsese
agreed to direct a more mainstream film for the studio in the future (which
eventually resulted in Cape Fear). Critic and screenwriter Jay Cocks worked
with Scorsese to revise Schrader's script. Aidan Quinn passed on the role of
Jesus, and Scorsese recast Willem Dafoe in the part. Sting also passed on the
role of Pilate, with the role being recast with David Bowie. Principal
photography began in October 1987. The location shoot in Morocco (a first for
Scorsese) was difficult, and the difficulties were compounded by the hurried
schedule. "We worked in a state of emergency," Scorsese recalled.
Scenes had to be improvised and worked out on the set with little deliberation,
leading Scorsese to develop a minimalist aesthetic for the film. Shooting
wrapped by December 25, 1987.
The film's musical soundtrack,
composed by Peter Gabriel, received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best
Original Score - Motion Picture in 1988 and was released on CD with the title
Passion, which won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Age Album. The film's score
itself helped to popularise world music. Gabriel subsequently compiled an album
called Passion – Sources, including additional material by various musicians
that inspired him in composing the soundtrack, or which he sampled for the
soundtrack.
The original scores brought together
many international artists including Pakistani Musician and vocalist Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan, Egyptian Kanun player Abdul Aziz, Turkish Ney flute player
Kudsi Ergüner, Armenian Doudouk players Antranik Askarian and Vatche Housepian.
RELEASE:
The film opened on August 12,
1988.The film was later screened as a part of the Venice International Film
Festival on September 7, 1988.] In response to the film's acceptance as a part
of the festival's lineup, director Franco Zeffirelli removed his film Young
Toscanini from the program.
Although The Last Temptation of
Christ was released on VHS and Laserdisc, many video rental stores, including
the then-dominant Blockbuster Video, declined to carry it for rental, as a
result of the film's controversial reception.] In 1997, the Criterion
Collection issued a special edition of The Last Temptation of Christ on
Laserdisc, which Criterion re-issued on DVD in 2000 and on Blu-ray disc in
Region A in March 2012 and Region B in April 2019.
Box office- The
Last Temptation of Christ opened in 123 theatres on August 12, 1988, in the
United States and Canada, and grossed $401,211 in its opening weekend. At the
end of its run, it had grossed $8,373,585 in the United States and Canada.
Internationally, it grossed $25.4 million for a worldwide total of $33.8
million.
Critical response- The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 82% of 103
film critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of
7.6/10. The consensus states: "Contrary to accusations of irreverence, The
Last Temptation of Christ's biggest sins are actually languid pacing and some
tinny dialogue — but Martin Scorsese's passion for the subject shines through
in an oft-transcendent rumination on faith."Metacritic, which assigns a
weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the
film a score of 80 based on 18 reviews, indicating "generally favourable
reviews''.
In a four-out-of-four star review for
the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert, who later included the film in his list of
"Great Movies", wrote that Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader
"paid Christ the compliment of taking him and his message seriously, and
they have made a film that does not turn him into a garish, emasculated image
from a religious postcard. Here he is flesh and blood, struggling, questioning,
asking himself and his father which is the right way, and finally, after great
suffering, earning the right to say, on the cross, 'It is accomplished. ''Gene
Siskel from the Chicago Tribune said: "Dafoe manages to draw us into the
mystery, anguish and joy of the holy life. This is anything but another one of
those boring biblical costume epics. There is genuine challenge and hope in
this movie."
A review associated with Catholic
News Service asserts that The Last Temptation of Christ "fails because of
artistic inadequacy rather than anti-religious bias."Halliwell's Film
Guide awarded it one star from a possible four, describing it as
"beautifully shot and strikingly acted, but wordy and too long".]
Alan Jones awarded it four stars out of five for Radio Times, calling it
"a challenging essay on the life of Jesus" and "neither
blasphemous nor offensive", though he felt it was "slightly too long,
and Scorsese does pull some punches in deference to the subject matter",
but described these as "minor criticisms" and concluded that it was a
"sincere work".
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
·
Nominated
for the Best director in the Academy Awards.
·
Nominated
for Best supporting actress and Best original score -motion picture in the
Golden Globe Award.
·
Nominated
for worst supporting actor in the Golden Raspberry Awards.
·
Nominated
for Best album original instrumental background score- motion picture in the
Grammy Award.
·
Runner-up
in the Los Angeles film critics association awards for the Best director.
·
Nominated
for the Best miracle in the movie in the MTV movie awards Mexico.
·
Places
5th in the top ten films for the National board of review Awards.
·
Won
filmcritica " Baston Bianca and Martin awards in the Venice international
film festival.
CONTROVERSY:
Terrorist attack:
Saint-Michel cinema attack
On October 22, 1988, an Integralist
Catholic group set fire to the Saint Michel cinema in Paris while it was
showing the film. Shortly after midnight, an incendiary device ignited under a
seat in the less supervised underground room, where a different film was being
shown. The incendiary device consisted of a charge of potassium chlorate,
triggered by a vial containing sulphuric acid.The attack injured thirteen
people, four of whom were severely burned, and severely damaged the cinema.
Death threats:
In Roger Ebert's book Scorsese by
Ebert, the critic wrote of the reaction to The Last Temptation of Christ,
".Scorsese was targeted by death threats and the jeremiads of TV
evangelists".The threats were significant enough that Scorsese had to use
bodyguards during public appearances for a few years.[citation needed]
Protests:
Because of the film's departures from
the gospel narratives—and especially a brief scene wherein Jesus and Mary
Magdalene consummate their marriage—several Christian groups organised vocal
protests and boycotts of the film prior to and upon its release. One protest,
organised by a religious Californian radio station, gathered 600 protesters to
picket the headquarters of Universal Studios' then parent company MCA.One of
the protestors dressed up as MCA's Chairman Lew Wasserman and pretended to
drive nails through Jesus' hands into a wooden cross.Evangelist Bill Bright
offered to buy the film's negative from Universal in order to destroy it. The
protests were effective in convincing several theatre chains not to screen the
film.One of those chains, General Cinemas, later apologised to Scorsese for
doing so.
Censorship and bans:
Mother Angelica, a Catholic nun and
founder of Eternal Word Television Network, described Last Temptation as
"the most blasphemous ridicule of the Eucharist that's ever been
perpetrated in this world" and "a holocaust movie that has the power
to destroy souls eternally." In some countries, including Greece, South
Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, the film was banned or censored
for several years. As of July 2010, the film continued to be banned in the
Philippines and Singapore. In February 2020, Netflix revealed the film to be
one of the five titles that have been removed from the Singapore version of
Netflix at the demand of the Singapore government's Infocomm Media Development
Authority.
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS:
Cinema administration in the United
States involves various aspects, from regulatory bodies to industry organisations.
Regulatory Bodies: The main regulatory body for the film industry in the United States is
the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which represents the major film studios.
They oversee film ratings and copyright enforcement. Additionally, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) has jurisdiction over certain aspects of the
industry, such as broadcast and cable television.
Film Ratings: The
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) administers the film rating system
in the U.S. Movies are rated G (General Audiences), PG (Parental Guidance
Suggested), PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned), R (Restricted), or NC-17
(Adults Only) based on their content.
Film Festivals: The administration of film festivals is a significant aspect of the
industry. Festivals like the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and
the Toronto International Film Festival play a vital role in showcasing and
promoting films.
Distribution: Film
distribution involves the administration of rights, licenses, and contracts for
the release and exhibition of films. Major studios and independent distributors
are involved in this aspect.
Exhibition: Theatre
chains, such as AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas, play a role in cinema
administration by screening films to the public. This includes administration
of ticket sales, scheduling, and maintenance of theatre facilities.
Industry Organisations: Various industry organisations, like the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences (responsible for the Oscars), the Directors Guild of
America, and the Screen Actors Guild, play a role in administration by setting
standards, providing support to industry professionals, and organising awards
and events.
Intellectual Property Rights: Cinema administration involves the protection of intellectual
property rights, such as copyrights and trademarks. The U.S. Copyright Office
handles copyright registration and administration.
Local and State Regulations: The administration of cinemas may also be subject to local
and state regulations, such as health and safety standards and licensing
requirements.
Streaming Services: With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+,
cinema administration now includes digital content distribution, licensing, and
rights management for online platforms.
Overall, cinema administration in the
USA encompasses a wide range of activities, from content creation and
distribution to regulation and exhibition, all of which contribute to the
thriving film industry in the country.
MOVIE CERTIFICATION:
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cinematography in the USA is
certified by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
The American Society of
Cinematographers (ASC) is a prestigious organization that certifies
cinematographers in the USA. They promote the art and craft of cinematography
and provide a platform for cinematographers to showcase their work. The ASC has
different delegations and committees that oversee various aspects of
cinematography, such as education, technology, and awards. It's a fantastic
community for cinematographers to network and learn from each other.Each
delegation plays a vital role in supporting and advancing the art of
cinematography.
The American Society of
Cinematographers, founded in Hollywood in 8 January 1919, is a cultural,
educational, and professional organisation that is neither a labor union nor a
guild. Shelly Johnson is the president of ASC. The Headquarters are in
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and United States and the founders of ASC
are Arthur Edeson, Victor Milner, Charles Rosher, Phil Rosen, Homer Scott.
The movie "The Last Temptation
of Christ" was released by Universal Pictures and was approved by the film
production company and the relevant authorities responsible for its release.
MOVIE BANNING AUTHORITY:
THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
In the USA, the authority to ban a
movie lies with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and individual
theatre owners. They can choose not to screen a movie if they deem it
inappropriate or against their guidelines. However, it's important to note that
banning a movie is a rare occurrence and usually happens on a case-by-case
basis.
The MPAA was formed in 1922 as the
Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA). It was later
renamed the MPAA in 1945. Its purpose is to represent the interests of major
film studios and to regulate and rate films for content. It was formed by major
film studios in the United States to regulate and rate films for content.
The MPAA, or Motion Picture
Association of America, is an organization that rates movies based on their
content. It provides age-based ratings such as G (General Audiences), PG
(Parental Guidance Suggested), PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned), R
(Restricted), and NC-17 (No One 17 and Under Admitted). These ratings help
viewers determine if a movie is suitable for different age groups.
the MPA established guidelines for
film content which resulted in the creation of the Motion Picture Production
Code in 1930. This code, also known as the Hays Code, was replaced by a
voluntary film rating system in 1968, which is managed by the Classification
and Rating Administration (CARA).
"The Last Temptation of
Christ" has faced bans or restrictions in certain countries due to its
controversial content. Some countries where it has been banned include Mexico,
Singapore, and South Africa. It was not banned in all the regions and there
were no legal cases against the movie. However, it did face some controversy
and criticism when it was released due to its portrayal of Jesus.
Some people protested against the
movie because they felt that the movie portrayed Jesus in a way that deviated
from their religious beliefs. It sparked controversy and raised concerns among
certain religious groups.
Some viewers might find the film controversial
due to its unconventional portrayal of Jesus. It deviates from certain
religious beliefs, which can be unsettling for some. It's important to approach
the movie with an open mind and respect different interpretations.
It serves as a reminder that
administrative agencies must carefully weigh constitutional rights against the
potential for public harm or offence.
It also emphasizes the need for a
well-defined legal framework that respects artistic freedom while addressing
the concerns related to public order and morality within the boundaries of
administrative law.
SUGGESTION:
I Personally feel that this
movie," The last temptation of Christ" was something that my heart
never takes in a good consideration. An
overall view about this movie is that it portrays the life story of Jesus
Christ and his sacrifice for us but still the temptations being played in the
movie is something that is contrary and I individually consider it to be with
actions deviating religious beliefs.
The board certified the movie with a
disclaimer, “This film is not based on the Gospels, but upon the fictional
exploration of the eternal spiritual conflict." But this may lead to wrong
teaching because of the film's departure from the Gospels narratives.
I did not like the idea that Jesus
basically rebels against God which is what the Bible says the exact opposite.
They claim that it sees Jesus struggling to be the Messiah. But what they don’t
see in the Bible is that Jesus struggled the entire time.
His forty-day temptation in the
desert was something that no one could achieve. He was mentally and physically
tempted to do what Satan told him to do.
Jesus was tempted like everyone else
and had a hard time from doing those temptations.
You people really think that Jesus
struggled to prove him as messiah?
Coming on to my view I say that it
was not on that track. I believe that God that our heavenly father was always
with Jesus in strengthening him in all ways he could and he gave his beloved
son for our sins.
I strongly believe that this movie departures
from gospel narratives and the actions being screened are against biblical
accounts.
CONCLUSION:
In an administrative law perspective,
"The Last Temptation of Christ" is a controversial film that raised
questions about the boundaries of freedom of expression and government
regulation. The conclusion drawn from this viewpoint may vary, but it highlights
the importance of striking a balance between artistic freedom and public
interest, particularly when evaluating the limits of content that may be
considered offensive or sacrilegious. The case of this film serves as a
reminder of the complexities involved in regulating art and media, and the need
for a robust legal framework that respects constitutional rights while also
addressing potential concerns related to administrative law, such as public
order and morality.
It serves as a reminder that administrative
agencies must carefully weigh constitutional rights against the potential for
public harm or offence. The conclusion emphasises the need for a well-defined
legal framework that respects artistic freedom while addressing the concerns
related to public order and morality within the boundaries of administrative
law. Ultimately, this case demonstrates the challenges in regulating art and
media while upholding the principles of administrative law and constitutional
rights.
REFERENCES:
·
The last temptation of Christ - Nikos
kazantzakis (The newyork time book review)
Article Information
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, 1988: ANALYSIS
Authors: MERLIN MADHUMITHA.JK
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2023/10/24
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
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