Mary (2005/I)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

Abel Ferrara (writer)
Mario Isabella (writer)

Release Date:

11 November 2005 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

It takes courage to walk in the truth.

Plot:

The Virgin Mary delivers a message to an 11-year-old girl.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Mary Magdalene | Jerusalem | Virgin Mary | Bomb

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Juliette Binoche	...	Marie Palesi / Mary Magdalene
Forest Whitaker	...	Ted Younger
Matthew Modine	...	Tony Childress / Jesus
Heather Graham	...	Elizabeth Younger
Marion Cotillard	...	Gretchen Mol
Stefania Rocca	...	Brenda Sax
Marco Leonardi	...	Apostle Peter
Luca Lionello	...	Apostle Thomas
Mario Opinato	...	Apostle James
Elio Germano	...	Matteo
Emanuela Iovannitti	...	Johanna, Mary's follower
Chiara Picchi	...	Salome
Angelica Di Majo	...	Martha
Ettore D'Alessandro	...	Apostle Andrew
Alex Grazioli	...	Apostle matthew

Also Known As:

Mary (France)

Runtime:

Canada:83 min

Country:

Italy | France | USA

Language:

English | Hebrew | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Jerusalem, Israel

Company:

Wild Bunch

Trivia:

Vincent Gallo was originally set to play Tony Childress/Jesus.

incoherent and confusing

It is really hard to understand what kind of message this film is supposed to convey. We have several threads of story that start and seem to lead nowhere. Juliette Binoche is an actress who after acting as Mary in a film about the life of Jesus is struck by religious fervor and apparently starts identifying herself wit the the Bible character. Forest Whitaker is a religious TV host who does not seem to care to much about God, but when disaster strikes his personal life he remembers Him and starts praying and believing - are we supposed to believe as viewers that this sincere? The film about Jesus starts some kind of controversy which seems to refer to Mel Gibson, but the real Mel Gibson as much as I may not like him is certainly sincere in his beliefs, and does not look like the cynical character in this film. Although 'Mary' lasts only 83 minutes the screen time is too long, so it is filled up with scenes of the biblical story (from the film in the film, or trying to convey some confuse metaphor? who cares?) and an episode of a Jewish Passover celebration in Jerusalem interrupted by an act of terror with no connection whatever with the rest of the story.

It is hard to grasp why this film was made, what is it really trying to say and why actors like Juliette Binoche and the now-Oscared Forest Whitaker got involved with it. They act well, but it's wasted talent. Unless you are a fan of Bible inspired films, there is no good reason to spend the time seeing it.