Try watching The Gospel According to Matthew by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Although Pasolini was an atheist, he follows the book of Matthew exactly, and doesn’t try to skip over the miracles or rationalize them. Definitely the most faithful version of the story I’ve ever seen put on the screen, and avoids being schmaltzy and hagiographic. Jesus’ abbreviated beard makes him look tough.
Not a movie, but a fascinating series of “warts and all” depictions of people of history between about 1840 and 1900 can be found in the Flashman Papers–a series of novels about the eponymous Flashman getting mixed up in all kinds of misadventures involving famous historical figures during that period. As far as I know they tend to be pretty accurate (and well referenced) regarding the real people Flashman encounters. Including von Bismark, Florence Nightingale, and Empress Cixi. Flashman only beds Cixi as I recall.
One of the novels did become a movie:
The “The Gospel According to Matthew” movie looks interesting. I will check it out.
My thought was that if Jesus walked on water, literally, the movie would have it. If Jesus had warts it would show it. And it has to be such that everyone would know the movie is factual, even if it goes against their beliefs.
Did the wonderful weather bring you back to boards after 10 months? ![]()
The movie does indeed depict Jesus walking on water – no dodging around it, because it’s in Matthew.
No warts on him, though.
Oddly the worst of the series- IMHO- of course, and it is mostly the Prisoner of Zenda anyway..
Yes, I’ve read all the Flashmans (Flashmen?). And they are based on a lot of research and throw up fascinating facts about people, but MacDonald Fraser is a spinner of yarns first and foremost,and not above sensationalising and simplifying where needed for the story. Cixi is a good example - I suspect that while a formidable woman, she wasn’t quite the sexually voracious psychopath that Flashman recalls.