Jesus

The life of Jesus, told in close adherence to the Gospel of Luke. Birth, baptism, sermons, miracles, trial and crucifixion; the story never leaves the text and the narration quotes it directly. Peter Sykes and John Krish directed. Brian Deacon plays Jesus. It was shot in Israel, in the regions where the events took place. A missionary organisation stands behind the production and the purpose was promotional from the start: it was made not for cinemas but to be shown everywhere in the world. The result is visible in the numbers. It has been translated into hundreds of languages and is cited as the most translated film in history; screenings have mostly been outdoors and communal. As cinema the production is modest: a limited budget, flat performances, editing in the language of television. Its historical value lies not in its aesthetics but in its circulation; it is the extreme case of a film used as a distribution instrument. Who it is for: viewers who want religious storytelling and adaptation faithful to the text. Who it is not for: anyone expecting a detached historical account; the film speaks from inside belief.