The Nativity Story: A Well-Timed Gift

CatholicExchange.com ^ | 11-27-06 | Bill Donaghy

[Salvation]

Bill Donaghy	Other Articles by Bill Donaghy
The Nativity Story: A Well-Timed Gift

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Touched By Grace

November 27, 2006

I've just come from a private screening of the New Line Cinema movie The Nativity Story. The evening was orchestrated by the wonderful Daughters of Saint Paul in Northeast Philadelphia. What a humble, hardworking and techno-savvy group of sisters!

The film chronicles the year in the life of Mary and Joseph that forever altered the course of human history. It's the Christmas story, told beautifully in rich tones. The journey takes us from the garden annunciation of Gabriel to the star-lit Holy Birth, and ending with the flight of Mary and Joseph with the Child into Egypt.

For me, the real treasures of this film lie in its attention to detail. The humble village of Nazareth is recreated with such evident devotion that this alone makes the film a joy to watch. We are invited to enter into the daily life of Mary, Joseph and their kin. We move with their schedules, we perform their everyday rituals, and it slows us down. These scenes are so rich with authenticity - Mary's coarse cloak, hand-woven and weathered, brushing past the wheat; Joseph at his wood-working table, layered with sawdust - each speaks to us of the Divine descent into our time, our work, and our sweat. They pull back the glitter and the lights and show us again the gritty reality of the Incarnation in the time and place in which God ordained that He would come. The olive press and the crushing of grapes for wine, so deeply foreboding of what lies ahead for Jesus; the gleaning of the grain in the fields hinting at a "gift of finest wheat" that will soon come to fill us; the tanning of animal hides, the stirring of goat's milk, the planting of seeds and the tilling of soil - all seemed drenched with light and pregnant with meaning.

Another charm of this film is in the intimate interactions of Mary and Joseph. A favorite scene for me was of Mary washing the travel-worn feet of a sleeping Joseph by a rocky stream. Again, a foreshadowing of what their Son will do for His Apostles. So we see in the parents what will come to be in the Child.

Oscar Isaac was so refreshing in his portrayal of Joseph, the humble blue-collar saint. He gave him a weight, a maturity, and a chivalry that is so desperately needed today. Well-acted with convincing emotion, Joseph too, makes the movie a must-see.

There are well-placed pieces of humor, of the most innocent kind. The music is stirring, with subtle hints at the classic Christmas hymns and melodies we all know so well. They are woven almost seamlessly into the score and we smiled when we caught them. The cave that served as the birthplace of the God-made-flesh was an open invitation to prayer, and that was almost tangible as we sat in the theater.

The Nativity Story has its limitations, as all our works of art do. The opening scenes were a little too Peter Jackson-esque. Joachim and Ann seemed a little cranky most of the time. And Mary was overly distant, almost stoic at times. But who could ever come close to conveying the emotion and the love of the Immaculate Virgin anyway?

Overall, I found myself thanking God for the gift of this movie. The timing is just right, in more ways than one.

© Copyright 2006 Catholic Exchange

 

Bill Donaghy is a lay evangelist who writes and speaks on topics of the Catholic Faith. He is a certified Theology of the Body speaker, and teaches Scripture in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Rebecca live in Lansdowne. Learn more about his speaking ministry and semi-serious blog at www.missionmoment.org.

[Salvation]

Have you seen the movie yet?

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Miss Marple]

This is the only movie I intend to see this winter.

[Frank Sheed]

Check the thread on this on What Does the Prayer Really Say Blog. It has been going on for several days now. The issue being discussed now is if the Blessed Mother suffered birth pains during delivery as shown in this movie. The responses are quite interesting. Fr. Z. is being forced to look deeper into the thoughts of the Early Church Fathers. My view had always been, "no, she didn't".

F

[kstewskis]

From discussions with someone who saw the movie in a preview:

Mary was ordinary, ordinary, ordinary. There was no holiness exuding from her. At the beginning of the movie, she was shown being "playful" with other boys her age. She was throwing something at them as she and her girlfriends were walking in a field. Somewhat flirtatious for Mary, conceived with out sin.

Perhaps Protestants, who see Mary as a "vessel" might not see anything wrong with that portrayal. Catholics would.

Ann and Joachim did not come across as being holy either. They didn't even seem that likable, as the reviewer above mentioned.

When Ann, Joachim and Joseph told Mary that she would be marrying Joseph, he (Joseph) told Mary that he was building a house for them with plenty of room for children.

The angel, or course, did not refer to Mary as "full of grace". Something that goes against Catholic tradition.

When on her way to visit Elizabeth, she was thinking about her situation, and thinking back to when the angel told her that Elizabeth was in her 6th month. Then she said (thought) to herself, (paraphrasing) "God, please let Elizabeth really be with child", as if she wasn't sure she believed it and was going there to find out for herself.

Joseph was very angry when he found out Mary was pregnant as he obviously believed she had been with another man. He even was dreaming that an angry mob was about to stone her, and he, himself, picked up a rock and was about to throw it at her when the angel spoke to him in the dream.

Mary was on the back of a donkey when she began having her "labor pains". Again, something contrary to Catholic teaching. Joseph ran around frantically trying to find a place for her to immediately have the Child Jesus. Oh, and of course, Joseph delivered Jesus himself.

This movie was written in a Protestant perspective, making the characters that we as Catholics venerate as saints, very ordinary in nature.

I think I'll pass on this one.

[Sun]

Here is an EXCELLENT letter from the aclj (not to be confused with the aclu) sent to Chicago, and this letter explains very well how wrong they were:

http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/ChicagoLetter.pdf

[Diva]

This movie was written in a Protestant perspective, making the characters that we as Catholics venerate as saints, very ordinary in nature.

I was hoping it would be good but I'm not so sure anymore. Also, my son the history major noticed that the soldiers who came to kill the Holy Innocents were Roman, something that would not have been possible. Herod would have used his own personal guard, not Roman soldiers. How could he command them to do it?

[Northern Yankee]

I am so looking forward to this movie. I am hoping to take my 8th grade CCD class to see it.

[Northern Yankee]

I think we must give it a chance.

Anything that can promote God in a Christian sense can't be a bad thing, no?

[Nancee]

Good Morning "Northern Yankee"!

"Anything that can promote God in a Christian sense can't be a bad thing, no?"

Thanks for the ping! I've been watching the previews on Hallmark...and I'm looking forward to seeing this movie!

Nancee

[netmilsmom]

I'm so glad you wrote this review from a Catholic perspective. There was a free screening for nuns, priests and bigwigs in our parish. Everyone was there to the point that they locked the church (that is never done until late at night) and our Slovak dance group had to drive to get a key.

I want to see this with my kids but now I will be able to have a discussion with them from our POV.

Thank you!

[Nancee]

BUMP!!!

[Tax-chick]

Interesting to see the comments.

[Nancee]

BUMP!!!!

[kstewskis]

I think we must give it a chance. Anything that can promote God in a Christian sense can't be a bad thing, no?

No it's not a bad thing, until it starts to minimize or distort what we believe as Catholics as doctrine and traditional Church teaching by subtle "commentary."

It might make for good discussion with your 8th grade CCD class, to illustrate some of the errors portrayed in the movie, like what Diva mentioned, with the Roman soldiers (or, when Gabriel came down to Mary during the Annunciation).

It's the underhanded disrespect of Our Lady that makes me take pause, along with the others (Joseph, Ann, Joachim) who are portrayed as "just men, women, who happened to be there, ect..." that don't sit well with me, personally. God had them play a huge role in His arrival. They weren't there by dumb luck.

I remember when "The Passion of The Christ" came out, it was criticized by some for being "too Catholic." Oh well, turn about is fair play. It's all about who's making the movie, and their perspective on things.

As for me this Advent, I think it's a good time to pull out my copy of "The Mystical City of God" by the venerable Mary of Agreda, and read the first four books from the Immaculate Conception through the Birth of Our Lord, instead.

(anytime, netmilsmom! ;o)

[Nihil Obstat]

great posts, thank you

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I'm going to see it on Sat.

[Catholic Canadian]

Not yet, I only just heard of it, but I will be seeing it, definately.

[Northern Yankee]

Great observations.

I appreciate your thoughts very much.

Certainly this will provide a great teaching moment for my students. We can compare what we believe, and how they fit in, or didn't fit in with the movie's interpretation.

I am just happy to be able to share something with my students that is out of the mainstream of American culture these days, and let them examine the basis of their faith.

Blessings to you both!

[netmilsmom]

>> (anytime, netmilsmom! ;o)<<

Thanks again!
I just e-mailed your post to our parish priest. He is a very traditional/orthodox priest who was invited to the free showing on Monday.
I'll keep everyone informed of what he says.