The Gospel According to Saint Matthew

From the great Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew is a passionate and provocative retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, from his birth to his resurrection. Released in 1964, the film stars Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus, Margherita Caruso as Mary, and Susanna Pasolini as the older Mary. Combining elements of neorealism and references to Italian and European classical painting, it's a religious film with a vivid yet unique vision.

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew doesn't hold back in its depiction of faithfully representing the Gospel of Matthew. This is not a Hollywood epic with its lavish sets and special effects, it is a sober, ascetic film shot mostly with non-professional actors, emphasizing authenticity above spectacle. Pasolini portrays Christ not as a divine figure but as a product of his social and historical context, a rebel and a prophet armed mainly with his words.

Enrique Irazoqui’s portrayal of Jesus is laudable. He’s stern, disciplined to his cause, and radiates a calm and certainty that draws others in. There is no romanticized aura in his portrayal. Instead, he portrays Christ as a staunch revolutionary, spreading the word of God with conviction and sternness. Meanwhile, Margherita Caruso and Susanna Pasolini, who play Mary in her younger and elder years respectively, project an image of soft-spoken strength and constant faithfulness while enduring the hardship of witnessing their son's trial and crucifixion.

Aesthetically, Pasolini used the stark and desolate landscapes of Southern Italy as the film’s backdrop, a choice that gives the film a gritty aesthetic and a sense of arduous authenticity. The cinematography is remarkable, with each frame capturing a strong injection of realism that complements the narrative. Furthermore, Pasolini's unconventional choice of music melds a diverse range of traditional spiritual sounds. Rather than relying on a conventional orchestral score as was the norm during that time, he used African masses, Bach, spiritual blues, and the indigenous sounds of various cultures to give the film an eclectic and evocative soundtrack that feels timeless and universal.

Pasolini’s documentarian approach employs the use of close-ups, depicting the emotions of the characters vividly, which removes any hindrance in the path of the viewer to feel closely connected with the narrative. Dialogue in the film is directly quoted from Matthew’s Gospel, avoiding any unnecessary interpretation or distortion from the original text. This was a significant move that helped in keeping the film a clear and direct adaptation of the biblical narrative.

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew isn't just a representation of Christ's life. It also provides social commentary on issues like poverty and oppression, which were much relevant in the context of Italy during the 1960s and still resonate today. Pasolini's Jesus speaks to the poor, the marginalized, and those who are most in need of salvation, mirroring the social teachings of the Gospel itself.

Whether you are religious or not, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew offers a raw and humanizing portrayal of one of the most influential figures in human history. Pasolini’s unique presentation and approach might be startling for some, but the honesty, sensitivity, and respect he pays to the source material is undeniable, making the film stand as a piece of cinema that transcends the boundaries of religion and reaches the realm of humanity. The film manifests Pasolini's firm dedication towards neorealism and his prowess in illustrating narrative through cinematic minimalism.

In the annals of cinematic history, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew stands as an important film that redefined the 'religious film' genre. It is a testament to Pasolini’s intuitive understanding of the medium and his ability to transcend the conventional storytelling norms to create a powerful and challenging interpretation of a well-known saga. It's an iconic and thought-provoking cinematic interpretation of the Gospels, delivering a picture of the life of Christ as never seen before, that will resonate with viewers of all kinds.