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VIRAL EXCLUSIVE
Jan. 29, 2024
Martin Scorsese’s New Jesus Film Aims to ‘Take away the Negatives’ of Organised Religion
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese looks to continue his success, having directed 2023 blockbuster film Killer of the Flower Moon, with an 80-minute film about the life of Jesus. Through his new movie, he looks to “take away the negative[s] … associated with organised religion”. By: Dylan Low
In
a public interview, Scorsese had mentioned his thought process behind the
project, which would be a film adaptation from The Life of Jesus by writer
Shūsaku Endō. Endō is a Japanese Catholic, whose 1966 novel Silence was also
previously adapted by Scorsese. Scorsese mentioned he and his writing partner
Kent Jones had concluded the screenplay and were “swimming in inspiration” for
a film reportedly situated mostly in current times that “focus[es] on Jesus’s
core teachings in a way that explores the principles but doesn’t proselytise”.
Scorsese
explained, “I’m trying to find a new way to make it more accessible and take
away the negative onus of what has been associated with organised religion.”
The
81-year-old director added on by saying, “Right now, ‘religion’, you say that
word and everyone is up in arms because it’s failed in so many ways. But that
doesn’t mean necessarily that the initial impulse was wrong. Let’s get back.
Let’s just think about it. You may reject it. But it might make a difference in
how you live your life – even in rejecting it. Don’t dismiss it offhand. That’s
all I’m talking about.”
He
discussed the origin of why he decided to work on the film project – when he
met Pope Francisin 2023 and took part in a conference known as The Global
Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination, run by Jesuit publication La Civiltà
Cattolica. He told the press, “I have responded to the pope’s appeal to artists
in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film
about Jesus.”
Scorsese
has had a history with films consisting of openly religious concepts. With his
1988 film title The Last Temptation of Christ adapted from Nikos
Kazantzakis, it caused much criticism for the movie’s depiction of Jesus. His
2016 film Silence showcases the struggles of Jesuit priests oppressed
for their religion in Japan, during the 17th century. 1997 also saw Scorsese
releasing Kundun, a biographical film regarding the Dalai Lama.
The
upcoming Jesus film is smoothly under progress, with the movie’s screenplay
already written and plans by Scorsese to begin filming production later into
the year. With an 80-minute duration, it is set to be his shortest film that he
has directed. This estimated runtime is a stark contrast to his most recent
film Killer of the Flower Moon that totals up to three-and-a-half hours,
and even shorter than his film debut titled Who’s That Knocking At My Door,
spanning 90 minutes.
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