Posted on 11/10/2006 6:57:35 AM PST by NYer
Los Angeles (AP) - On Sunday, November 26th, New Line Cinema's "The Nativity Story" will become the first feature film ever to premiere at the Vatican, it was jointly announced Thursday by New Line's President and COO of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing Rolf Mittweg, and Stefano Dammicco, CEO of Eagle Pictures, the film's Italian distributor. "The Nativity Story" is scheduled for a Dec. 1, 2006 release in the U.S., and will open in territories worldwide throughout the month of December.
The premiere, to be held at the Vatican's Aulo Paolo VI (Pope Paul VI Hall), will be attended by "The Nativity Story's" director Catherine Hardwicke, actors Shohreh Aghdashloo and Oscar Isaac, producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, screenwriter Mike Rich, and 7,000 invited guests of the Vatican. The event will serve as a benefit, with contributions going toward construction of a school in the village of Mughar, Israel - which has a diverse population of Christians, Muslims, and Druze and is located approximately 40 kilometers from Nazareth.
"We are very proud of 'The Nativity Story' and extremely grateful that the Vatican has embraced the film in this way," says Mittweg. "We believe it isthe perfect venue to present the film's universal message of hope and faith, a message we are sure will resonate around the world."
"'The Nativity Story' is an extraordinary event, and this premiere is a fitting way to reach out to our community and share the experience," says Dammicco. "It is a privilege for Eagle Pictures to be New Line's Italian partner on the film."
The event has been made possible due to the collaboration of the PontificalCouncil for Culture, the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, the Vatican Film Library, the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" (for Human and Christian Development), the Vicariate of Vatican City State, and the Foundation for Sacred Art and Music.
"The Nativity Story" chronicles the arduous journey of two people, Mary and Joseph, a miraculous pregnancy, and the history-defining birth of Jesus. This dramatic and compelling story comes to life in a major motion picture starring Academy Award(R) nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes ("Whale Rider") as Mary, Oscar Isaac (upcoming "Guerrilla") as Joseph, and Academy Award(R) nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sand and Fog") as Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. "The Nativity Story" is directed by Catherine Hardwicke ("Thirteen," "Lords of Dogtown") from a screenplay by Mike Rich ("The Rookie," "Finding Forrester").
Oscar Isaac as Joseph
A village scene
Keisha Castle-Hughes (left) as Mary and Hiam Abbass (right) as Anna
Soldiers and Tax Collectors enter a village
I sure hope they have seen it already and have approved.
You mean, given it their nihil obstat ;-)
The auxiliary woman's group from my parish plan to see the movie in January, assuming it's still playing.
:-)
This site has a review of the movie - http://www.nativitymovie.blogspot.com/
It looks good, although I agree - sometimes the portentous music can get on one's nerves. There were a lot of good documentaries on the lives of various Spanish saints produced in Spain over the years, until about the mid-80s, but one of their big problems (IMHO) is the portentous music. We know something big is going on, we don't need to have the One Million Violins swelling in the background...
I'm gonna have a really hard time getting past the actress playing Elizabeth.
She was Dina on "24".
Other than that, if it's good enough for the Holy Father, it's good enough for me!
Such a beautiful prayer! I have this on CD and love it.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Very nice! I'm looking forward to seeing this and, on a different note, Children of Men (to be released on Christmas Eve, I think), which is based on P.D.James' rather depressing futuristic novel about a society where no one has children anymore - until...
Fortunately, I don't know who Dina on 24 was, so I'm safe!
I'm hearing good things about this movie.
BUMP
Pregnant star misses Vatican gala
The teenage star of a film about the Nativity is missing its Vatican premiere because she is expecting a baby with her 19-year-old partner.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6185894.stm
Role play gone too far ;-)? At least she isn't claiming this as the 2nd virgin birth.
I told my mother I'll take her to see the movie on Sat.
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