Jesus of Montreal

Starring:Christine-Ann Atallah, Paule Baillargeon, Boris Bergman, Lothaire Bluteau, ValÃ©rie GagnÃ©, RÃ©my Girard, Yves Jacques, VÃ©ronique Le Flaguais, Gaston Lepage, Robert Lepage, Claude LÃ©veillÃ©e, Pauline Martin (II), Monique Miller, Jean-Louis Millette, CÃ©dric NoÃ«l, Gilles Pelletier, Pascal Rollin, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Catherine Wilkening
Studio: Koch Lorber Films
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

What happens to the people putting on a Passion Play? Someday Mel Gibson may tell us, but Denys Arcand's Jesus of Montreal proposes an engaging possibility. In hip present-day Montreal, a group of actors stages the Passion in an outdoor, somewhat avant-garde style, led by the quietly charismatic and increasingly uncanny young man (Lothaire Bluteau, Black Robe) playing Christ. His identification with the role, and the way it bleeds into real life, gives director Denys Arcand plenty of opportunities for social comment--some of it spot-on, some of it a little facile. But the fragile Bluteau is such a fascinating lead presence (the other actors are familiar from Arcand's Barbarian Invasions and Decline of the American Empire) that the movie's spell lasts long after it's over. Turns out the French-Canadian approach to the Passion can be just as intriguing as the original Aramaic. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

A must see movie.......2007-05-09

I saw this movie around 1990 in VHS format. As I grew up in Montreal I found it easy to relate to everything in the movie.

I agree with all the positive reviews. I would add only that the movie I saw hadboth English and French dialog, the English sub titles were excellent and give the full flavor of the French dialogue.

If you find it hard to understand that religious people are also humans, then you may find the movie shocking.

The Only PrObLeM.........2007-02-20

With thiS is that it's not iN English.This is not a flaw.ThEre's a scene where Jesus hits someone and that's not cool.BuT he's a human.The characters take on a life of their own wheN they put on A Passion plaY about Jesus death and find themselves taking on the rolE of those charaters. FIne dialogue at the bottom of the screen in ENglish. I Must make this 5 stars.There iS humor, there's love, there's so many symbolic references to situations found iN the Bible it's incrediBle.Scrubs is a good comedy.Suzanne Vega's first cd is brilliant crafted folk, and this movie, is among my favorites. Ranks with High intellectual films such as "jacob's LAdder." And my favorite film is also "Not WithOut My Daughter." I love you let's watch this film and the above I mentioned and Learn! Carry on Noble warriors in this film and iN any great film."Ghost Rider's" not alone in the film category of Hotties: The actresses in this are fine looking. Some bad language in a scene, but be ready: Look beyond and LeArn:Even if your a fundamentalist Christian, this movie's rich and dear.

stunning!.......2007-01-11

This is a truly captivating film, offering perceptive commentaries
on today's human condition, and it would mesmerize you from start to
finish--highly recommended!

Nicely done -- but the church is the bad guy again.......2006-04-04

This was a very intriguing movie and left me wondering if it was based on actual events -- but it was not. Still, it could have happened. It presents a glimpse of Montreal while at the same time dealing with "some really good material" -- though is it just the opiate of the masses or can it be way more than this for more than whatever "the masses" might mean?

I would actually imagine the church would be thrilled to have the interest. Was the church interested in Jesus Christ Superstar? This one had an interesting slant to it. We viewed this movie as part of Canada week. I understand from a friend that it is a bit of a cult movie for Canadians!

Problematic on many levels--but thought provoking and spectacularly moving.......2006-02-20

This may be the minority opinion here, but the film seemed to self-destruct in the last 10 minutes. Those who can have an entire movie spoiled by a melodramatic and bizare ending, be warned.

That said, the movie up to those last 10 minutes had more than enough heart and intelligence to keep the ending from ruining all. The acting is impressive, giving the viewer both an insight into each of these character's lives and a reason to actually care. Although some of the scholarship the film praises seems questionable (though far less so than, say, Gibson's The Passion of the Christ), the applicability of Christ's impossible paradoxes to modern society pulls the film through. The film is tightly edited and never boring, though after watching it I wondered if a director's cut would've filled in a few minor questions I had.

Overall, though, the movie did the things that good movies should do: it made me laugh, it was deeply moving, and it made me walk away thinking deeply (in this case about what exactly it was that this man named Jesus had to say.) So I give it a thumb up.

Jesus of Montreal (French language only) (Import)

Average customer rating:

A must see movie
The Only PrObLeM..
stunning!
Nicely done -- but the church is the bad guy again
Problematic on many levels--but thought provoking and spectacularly moving

Jesus of Montreal (French language only) (Import)
Starring: Christine-Ann Atallah , Paule Baillargeon , Boris Bergman , Lothaire Bluteau , and Valérie Gagné
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The Decline of the American Empire
The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions Barbares)
The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection
The King of Kings - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000065SGY
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A must see movie.......2007-05-09

The Only PrObLeM.........2007-02-20

stunning!.......2007-01-11

This is a truly captivating film, offering perceptive commentaries
on today's human condition, and it would mesmerize you from start to
finish--highly recommended!

Nicely done -- but the church is the bad guy again.......2006-04-04

Problematic on many levels--but thought provoking and spectacularly moving.......2006-02-20

Denys Arcand 4-DVD Collection (Le Déclin de l'empire américain / Jésus de Montréal / Amour et restes humains / Les Invasions barbares) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]

Average customer rating:

Denys Arcand 4-DVD Collection (Le Déclin de l'empire américain / Jésus de Montréal / Amour et restes humains / Les Invasions barbares) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]
Director: Denys Arcand
Manufacturer: Roadshow
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000LQHGO6

Product Description

"Australia released, PAL/Region 4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain) : Four university teachers gather to prepare a dinner. Remy - married, Claude - homosexual, Pierre - girlfriend and Alain - a bachelor discuss sex, the female body and their affairs with them. Their guests Louis, Dominique, Diane and Danielle are waiting at a health gym. They also discuss sex, the female body and, naturally, men. Later in the evening they meet and have dinner. The discussion? Well, you can guess it... The Decline of the American Empire / Jesus of Montreal / Love & Human Remains / The Barbarian Invasions Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal): A group of actors putting on an interpretive Passion Play in Montreal begin to experience a meshing of their characters and their private lives as the production takes form against the growing opposition of the Catholic church. Love & Human Remains (Amour et restes humains): Set in a dreary urban landscape of an anonymous Canadian city, LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS is a dark comedy about a group of twentysomethings looking for love and meaning in the '90s. The film focuses on roommates David, a gay waiter who has has given up on his acting career, and Candy, a book reviewer who is also David's ex-lover. The Barbarian Invasions: Having a difficult time accepting the reality of death and feeling regretful of his past, a man dying of cancer tries to find peace in his last moments. His estranged son, ex-wife, ex-lovers and old friends will all come to him to share his last breath. SPECIAL FEATURES: Multi-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Box Set, "

Average customer rating:

A must see movie
The Only PrObLeM..
stunning!
Nicely done -- but the church is the bad guy again
Problematic on many levels--but thought provoking and spectacularly moving

Jésus de Montréal

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The Decline of the American Empire
The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions Barbares)
The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection
The King of Kings - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B00009W36A

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A must see movie.......2007-05-09

The Only PrObLeM.........2007-02-20

stunning!.......2007-01-11

This is a truly captivating film, offering perceptive commentaries
on today's human condition, and it would mesmerize you from start to
finish--highly recommended!

Nicely done -- but the church is the bad guy again.......2006-04-04

Problematic on many levels--but thought provoking and spectacularly moving.......2006-02-20

Jesus de Montreal ( Original French Version )

Average customer rating:

A Canadian forgotten gem!

Jesus de Montreal ( Original French Version )

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0002LXSKG

Product Description

( Original French Version ) A group of actors putting on an interpretive Passion Play in Montreal begin to experience a meshing of their characters and their private lives as the production takes form against the growing opposition of the Catholic church.

Customer Reviews:

A Canadian forgotten gem!.......2005-10-13

This picture narrates the efforts of a young actor to incarnate Jesus in a theatrical stage; this weird premise will arouse a wide support of all the community against the bureaucratic environment with the expected and ominous consequences this daring attitude will entail.

An immediate cult movie since it was released. A very original proposal that transcends the colloquial anecdote that made me remind this talented director. Hence it did not surprise me the forceful, coveted and deserved Academy Award for Barbarian invasions. A personal triumph of Denyse Arcand.

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