Review: The Nativity Story

Keisha Castle-Hughes as Mary

I was undone after seeing The Nativity Story. I wasn't expecting that. I had figured it would be a somewhat faithful retelling of the story of the events leading up to Jesus birth. I'm more analytical when watching movies based on bible accounts than movies in other genres, so apart from thinking I would might get a tear in my eye at some point I wasn't counting on being impacted.

One thing I loved about this movie was how the reality of everyday life and the intrusion of larger events was portrayed in a gritty and real way. Some-one has done their research on how people lived at the time, and the locations look authentic. It's a marvellous enactment of ordinary people going about their business while living with the disruptions of an oppressive regime. There is an obvious contrast between the simplicity of Nazareth, where faith is lived in the midst of harvesting crops, grinding the mill, drawing water, carpentry, and all the tasks that the community meld together, and the busy sophistication and grandeur of Jerusalem, which looks stunning and imposing. The sets make the scenes historically fascinating and also strike at the heart of our disparities today. The film draws on this sort of understated comparison, where the differences speak for themselves.

Ciaran Hinds does a terrific job portraying King Herod, and gives one of the best performances in the film. He is a ruthless tyrant with an cruel cold rage. Hinds brings the historical Herod to the screen in such a way that he is at the same time a very pointed reminder of some of the murderous leaders of our own time. The scene where Herod goes to the temple to appear to make atonement for his sins is a powerful statement about political power and religious hypocrisy. It's not a scene from the original story, but artistically delivers a knockout in terms of false appearances and spiritual compromise.

In contrast to Herod there is Mary, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes. I have always felt disappointed with the way Mary is portrayed in movies. She usually looks very European, acts somewhat mystical or ethereal, and could have stepped straight out of a painting. It is so refreshing to see a more realisitic portrayal in terms of appearance, age, and behavior. Keisha Castle-Hughes' Mary has a combination of unspoken intensity and innocence, and she is a strong personality in a quietly determined way. This is a young woman who ponders things in her heart and lives her faith by her actions. Combined with the sets and locations Mary's character is disarming. She's an ordinary girl who doesn't understand everything around her. I was glad to see that Mary is not elevated to some sort of mythical superhuman status in this film. In a telling line she says to Joseph, "Why did he choose me? I'm nobody." And this nobody, who knows nothing of political intrigues or the weilding of temporal power, is the counterfoil to all of Herod's corrupt authority.

The Magi (wisemen) are likeable intellectuals, the best minds of their day engaged in a discipline which doesn't separate science and spirituality. They convey an attitude of science as a service rather than the convoluted self-indulgence that it might become. They also provide some moments of comic relief, which I wasn't sure I liked at first, but it grew on me and reminded me of the sort of good-natured jousting and cameraderie which goes on between scientists working together on projects.

If the movie is viewed as a synopsis based on the original accounts then it can be appreciated. The events depicted are sometimes compressed in time, and some things are added to fill out the story. An example is the scene in which the shepherds and Magi arrive at the stable at the same time on the night of Jesus birth. From the accounts in Matthew and Luke's gospels we see that the wise men would have arrived later, over 40 days after Jesus birth. The purification time for Mary after giving birth, and the facts which show Joseph and Mary's limited financial means (they purchase turtle doves instead of a lamb for the temple ceremony - the poorer people were allowed to do this but if one could afford a lamb then a lamb would be bought), puts the Magi's arrival with their expensive gifts at a later time. Those gifts would provide the means for Joseph and Mary's journey and stay in Egypt. Another example is the star, which is explained as three planets coming into such close proximity that their reflected light appears as one. That is a possible explanation, but not necessarily true, and I'm not sure why the film chooses this. It does help to highlight the Magi's technical methods, which I found very interesting. While the movie takes a few liberties, it shows the spirit of those who came to pay homage, and it was very moving to see a portrayal of some of the brightest scientific minds of that age coming to the humble conclusion of their quest.

Journeys are a major part of The Nativity Story, and the journeys are arduous as characters travel through sandstorms, over rough terrain, cross rivers, and pass through imminent dangers. It was halfway through Joseph and Mary's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem that I found myself captured by the spirit of the story and started coming undone. It's a hard journey over about 70 miles and I was struck by the vunerability of the characters. So small, so human, propelled on by the need to be present in Bethlehem for the census, and by a greater hand unseen. It's during this journey that Joseph and Mary's characters are really made evident. Isn't it the way that adversity shows one's true colours? It is in the simplicity of their actions - Joseph's unselfishness, Mary's growing love for him, and the way she washes his blistered feet - that we see what kind of parents they will be, and how the smallest can be the weightiest.

From this point on the film was for me like a series of undoings, as one scene after another overturned the concept of what is mighty, powerful, and important and replaced it with what is truly great. As Herod schemes and rages, merchants buy and sell, people rush to and fro in busyness, there are unknown people being guided through it all - nobodies who will help to turn the world on its head by their simple unseen actions. Small kindnesses which are more valuable than Herod's far-reaching excesses of despotism. There is an obvious overarching plan, a guidance and co-ordination of events which is beyond human interference. Unexpectedly I found myself crying as I watched. Since I have seen The Nativity Story I have questioned my own understanding of Christmas. I know it is a celebration of Jesus birth, but it has become so commercial, and such a money-making extravaganza, that it seems to be all about us instead of him. This film gave me images of an incredibly humble, lowly birth. Of simple people who pass through the self-promotion and self-seeking activity around them as they follow a deeper call. As I walked through supermarket aisles the day after seeing the film and looked at all the stuff already on display for Christmas shoppers - stands full of chocolate this and that, special treats, and merchandise suddenly reinvented as just what your loved one needs - it all appeared far removed from a couple away from home and without much money, dependent on the kindness of strangers. The Nativity Story reminded me that the upside down values of God then are the upside down values of God today. He chooses nobodies and turns the world on its head by their simple actions. There are those who don't see it - or who, like Herod, think they have prevented it. But God in flesh is born, and this is portrayed in a down to earth and delightful way in the movie. Not covered in luxury with flashing advertising, but lying in a cattle feedbox. Despite a few flaws and some liberties with the script, and without a cast of thousands, Director Catherine Hardwicke has conveyed what Christmas really means. It's about what we consider important, and how that is undone by what God considers important. It's about a gift that comes without fancy wrapping that is more valuable than all other gifts combined.

"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 the lowly
He has filled the hungry with good things
And the rich he has sent away empty"
- from Mary's song, Luke 1:51-53
Rated: PG
Running Time: 1hr 40min