Posted on 11/14/2006 3:15:50 PM PST by Sopater
Hugh Hewitt interviewed the screenwriter, Mike Rich, for an hour yesterday.
From the bits I heard, he made a real effort to write a script for a good movie. Spent a year in research before he started writing.
He was more interested in the characters than in a straight line narration of the events.
Is it going to be in theatres?
Is it going to be in theatres?
Yes, I think it opens onm December 1. A premier at the Vatican!
Selected theatres from the previews I saw over the weekend.
According to Mike Rich on Hugh Hewitt, New Line is going for a wide release. He said 3000 screens in the U.S. and overseas release at the same time as the U.S. release.
I hope so as it looked good.
I hope to see this before it comes out. I may have an opportunity soon. I'm really curious to see how Our Lady is portrayed. The following excerpt has furthered my curiosity:
There is one moment where Mary has an attitude, but it is very brief and natural. A later statement, however, declares that Mary is always trustworthy, that she keeps her promises and therefore she is honored by God. Her complexities add depth to her character and make the story of Mary and Joseph more profound.
It opens on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (12/8). I wonder if they meant that deliberately as a tribute to Mary?
no sex but hugging, light kissing and two childbirths, nothing shown but very intense;
I'm guessing that they depicted the Theotokos having labor pains. Criticism was directed (this site for example) at the well-known Jesus of Nazareth miniseries for its depiction of Mary giving birth to Jesus. I read EWTN'S article on Mary's Virginity During Jesus' Birth, but I'm still a bit puzzled.
The EWTN article states,
The Western Fathers seemed to emphasize Mary's physical integrity; for instance, Pope St. Leo the Great said, "She (Mary) brought Him forth without the loss of virginity, even as she conceived him without its loss...(Jesus Christ was) born from the Virgin's womb because it was a miraculous birth." On the other hand, the Eastern Fathers emphasized Mary's joy and freedom from pain in giving birth to Jesus, the Son of God. In either case, remember, the Gospel of St. Luke simply stated, "She gave birth..."
Kosta, Kolo, Campion, et al, is there anything from the Fathers that you could add to that?
My other concern is the Vatican's hosting of the world premiere of the movie. This could be problematic, given the above.
Your thoughts are appreciated!!
But I don't think that necessarily precludes labor pains. As a father, I can tell you that, for a first baby, labor pains can go on for a long, long time before the actual birth.
This is just my personal opinion, but I firmly believe that the Blessed Mother Mary gave birth, just like all other mothers at the time. I don't get the concern with the state of her hymen before or after birth. She would have still be just as much a virgin seeing that some women are born without a hymen, and they are virgins during part of their lives. So I don't get the big deal. And since God impregnated her miraculously, I am sure that He preserved her physically however He saw fit.
But I throughly disagree with the thought that Our Lord passed through her as a "beam of light." That, to me, trivializes her motherhood, her womanhood. Pregnancy, labor and birth are some of the most heroic things a woman will ever do. Not to mention that the physical process of birth is extremely beneficial to the baby. To take this away from Our Lady is to remove her further from women. And from motherhood.
Did it hurt? That I don't know, I do believe it would have been hard work though. I argued in my senior thesis that the pain that was foretold to Eve was not the actually pain of birth but the pain of raising children, the struggles, the doubt, the worry, the hard choices. Obviously Our Lady was spared all that.
My problem with this theory is that it treats birth as a consequence of sin. Perhaps labor pains are, but then all pain and suffering is the result of the fall. And Our Lady wasn't spared the other pains of this world, her only child died in front of her, how much worse can it get? The physical process of giving birth is the most incredible gift. (and yes I've done it drug free...twice, so far)It is a bonding experience, the first time you and your child work together to achieve an end. There aren't words to describe it, and I seriously doubt that Our Lady was denied this experience.
Oscar Isaac as Joseph
THE NATIVITY STORY - Official Web Site
Catholic Ping
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? Am I missing something here?
No, I don't think you're missing anything. What do you think is missing from the statement?
They filmed it in Matera, Italy. The same place Mel filmed The Passion.
It seems much of Mel's recipe for success was followed.
From what I understand much consideration was given in the portrayal of Mary.
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