Spiritual Cinema Series The Last Temptation of Christ Tue, Apr 7, 3pm Teatro Santa Ana Biblioteca Pública Insurgentes 25 60 pesos

A temptation to revisit a classic film
By Sergio Rodriguez

This book is not a biography; it is the confession of every man who struggles. In publishing it, I have fulfilled my duty, the duty of a person who struggled much, was much embittered in his life, and had many hopes. I am certain that every free man who reads this book, so filled as it is with love, will more than ever before, better than ever before, love Christ.—N. Kazantzakis, The Last Temptation of Christ

Martin Scorsese directed The Last Temptation of Christ, starring Willem Dafoe as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, David Bowie as Pontius Pilate and Harry Dean Stanton as Paul.

The Holy Week presents a valuable opportunity to revisit this 1988 film and its allegorical interpretation of the last days of Jesus Christ, based on Kazantzakis’ noThe film, surrounded by controversy, has a very different focus than past portraits of the Messiah. This Jesus is a man wracked with doubt over his position among his followers and fear of the role God has chosen for him, as well as the pain that must accompany it. Unsure whether the messages he receives come from God or Satan, and tempted by a mortal life filled with earthly possessions and sensual love, the ambivalence results in a controversial, though genuinely sympathetic, account of Jesus. 

Despite the film opening with a disclaimer stating that it is “not based on the gospels” and is “fictional,” unprecedented protests followed its release.

The film’s central thesis is that Jesus, while free from sin, was still subject to every form of temptation that humans face, including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance and lust. Yet, it also depicts how humans can triumph over such temptations, portraying a victorious Jesus, able to harmonize, through love, his human nature and his godly mission.

Some Christian scholars acknowledge that maintaining equilibrium between these two contrasting natures might have been as difficult as The Last Temptation of Christ depicts. Here, there is a notable difference between Christ’s will and the will of his Father; yet driven by his love for mankind and his devotion to his Father, Christ constantly denies his own will in order to fulfill his divine mission as Savior.

Twenty years later, we welcome the opportunity to revisit this film and appreciate its alternative, if not complimentary, portrayal of Jesus. As usual in the LifePath series, after the movie we invite you to stay for discussion of the film.