Ryan McNeil
If I’m watching films loaded with religious themes, it must be Lent again.
The story of JESUS OF MONTREAL is rather lovely in its simplicity. High above Montreal is the St-Joseph’s Oratory, where Fr. Leclerc hopes to revive an interpretation of The Passion Play he once wrote. From the glimpses we get of his original, we can sense that it’s terrible. Luckily for us, the priest gives creative control to his lead actor/director Daniel (Lothaire Bluteau), and the power to change what he feels needs changing. After assembling a ragtag cast made up of voiceover actors, commercial models, and other such unconventional choices, Daniel proceeds to present the Passion Play as a piece of avant-garde drama…complete with flourishes of heresy.
One of the things about this series that I’ve grown to love, is the subjectivity of everybody’s “blind spots”. Take this entry for example. I’d wager that there are several people reading this entry that haven’t even heard of this film, meaning the same people wonder what has landed it a place on my own list. As it happens, the film is something of a touchstone in the cannon of Canadian film. Wanna guess which Canadian filmgoer is tragically ill-versed in the vocabulary of Canadian film?
Come to think of it, is it even worse that I’ve never seen this film despite being a Canadian who was raised Catholic?
What I loved most about the film is the way it admits its own flimsiness early on, but then goes on to defy that flimsiness with cleverness and sly allusion. Much like the way Christ challenged the established teachings with deeper ideas of communion, so too does Daniel challenge the flock that gathers at St-Joseph’s (and the establishment that runs it) by embodying true selflessness. By seeing greater potential in his cast than the crummy jobs listed on their resume, he allows them a chance to rise above their past and be better. Not just better artists, but better people. Both in what he infuses into the play, and his attitude to his fellow-man, Daniel paints the legacy of Christ in equal parts role model and rock star. The result is a film that is just as much Pepsi Cola as it is Pasolini.
I’m often amused by paradoxes (or am I amused by paradoxi?). One such paradox that came to mind while watching JESUS OF MONTREAL, was the fact that the Passion play within the film proves too controversial for the Catholic diocese that supplies the stage, and yet the film itself ducked almost all controversy at the time. It’s difficult to speculate 25 years later, but perhaps all controversy was avoided because the ideas that are supposed to be subversive within the span of the story aren’t really all that subversive in the world we inhabit. Then again, perhaps the sort of vocal Christians that would cry “Blasphemy!” at such claims were too hoarse from yelling about THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST just one year earlier. Perhaps this time around these same Christians said “Screw it – say what you want”.
One wonders if the world would be a better place if more of the devout said “Screw it” more often. Isn’t there a massive amount of grey area between interpretation and insult? Isn’t the very nature if faith that it should be able to withstand scorn and subversion? That seems to be what Daniel’s play within this film is trying to get at – that the morals are supposed to help you find your way, not the nitty-gritty details. The fight the diocese puts up in the face of this supposed subversion garners results that are very un-Christian. One has to believe things would have gone much better if the faithful in this story were…well…more faithful.
About ten years ago, I took a trip by myself to Montreal, and without knowing its place within this iconic Canadian film, I found myself walking The Stations of The Cross at this oratory. In that moment, I was at a crossroads of my life and had no idea what my next decision would bring upon me. I didn’t pray while I was there, I don’t even think the idea crossed my mind. But as I walked from station to station and looked at the world through the lens of my camera, I felt an undeniable sense of peace. It was the sort of peace I used to feel at mass when I was a practising Catholic, and the sort of peace I believe every religion wants it’s followers to feel at their most devout.
That same feeling of peace is all over Daniel’s play, and Arcand’s film. It is not something one will find in historical record, nor one that one will find in dogma that tells followers the right way to worship and the true path to redemption. Instead, it’s something that one will find when they allow the spirit of what inspires them flow through them. And if there’s a personal spin put on it…or a little bit of blasphemy…so be it.
I usually post Blind Spot entries on the final Tuesday of every month. If you are participating, drop me an email (ryanatthematineedotca) when your post is up and I’ll make sure to link to your entry.
Here’s the round-up for March so far…
Amir watched THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
Nikhat watched BLUE VELVET
Beatrice watched CARRIE
Courtney Small watched THE SEARCHERS
Josh watched THE SMILING LIEUTENANT
Bob Turnbull watched ASHES AND DIAMONDS and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
Abstew watched BLACK NARCISSUS
Elina watched RESERVOIR DOGS
Ruth watched ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN
Fisti watched SERGEANT YORK
Caitlin watched THE GRADUATE
Andina watched SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
Jay Cluitt watched METROPOLIS
Mette watched AMERICAN HISTORY X
Chris watched THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH
Dani watched CITY LIGHTS
Dan Heaton watched THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS
Brittani Burnham watched SOME LIKE IT HOT
Will Kouf watched WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR?
Sean Kelly watched THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Mariah watched THX-1138
Steve Flores watched A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Christian Bordea watched DAYS OF HEAVEN
Shantanu Ghumare watched DIABOLIQUE
Rich Watson watched CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS
I haven’t seen this (or even heard of it?) but I’m wholly intrigued! I’ll have to add this to my queue, or maybe I’ll save it for next year’s blind spot!
Speaking of religiously themed movies, have you thought about participating in my blogathon?
http://afistfuloffilms.blogspot.com/2014/03/god-is-in-movies-blogathon.html
Would you be down with linking this post as a contribution to your own? Also, there will be a lot of discussion of religious themed films on the next Matineecast which posts on Monday…so there’s that too.
Seeing this as your selection for this month was a shocking but pleasant surprise. Partly because I had forgotten it was on your list, and partly because it is a great Canadian film that does not get discussed too much these days. Heck, it has been many years since I last saw the film myself.
Funny enough, my church, which is Anglican, had a movie night during lent a few years back and showed this films. It struck me as an odd, dare I say risky choice, for a congregation where the majority of the individuals are of retirement age. Oh to be a fly on the wall for the discussion at that screening…I cannot even imagine this film ever being shown at my wife’s church, she is Catholic like yourself.
Regardless, I am glad to see that you enjoyed the film. Frankly, I wish there were more films like Jesus of Montreal that embrace, and repurpose, the ideals of spirituality without feeling the need to “stick exactly to the text.” I understand that there will always be an audience for films like Son of God, but those types of films do very little to foster any sort of true inward reflection…at least for me.
I should add “Canadian Essentials” to the neverending list of projects I’m needling! I could move on to DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE and MON ONCLE ANTOINE.
I wonder if your congregation would have been all that up-in-arms. It struck me as being rather harmless on the whole, because even if the play itself disputes the facts, the film itself still feels quite beholden to the teachings of Christ. A small part of my brain considered the reaction of the diocese and thought “Seriously> they’re pissed about THAT?”. I gotta think your congregation would be the same.
Or I’m a dumb-ass optimist.
I’m right with you in wishing there were more films like this. It seems to understand the age-old teachings and apply them to modern life. SON OF GOD strikes me – to use an old metaphor – as preaching to the choir.
Hi Ryan, great blind spot today. I agree with you that this series has highlighted everyone’s subjective point of view. With regard to the film, I’ve never seen or heard of it. The only thing I can think of in comparison is ‘The Last Temptation of Christ.’ There was a lot of controversy about that film when it came out. When I finally watched ‘The Last Temptation…” I was surprised that it really shouldn’t have been controversial. The film was essentially about Christ’s last temptation, the temptation to become human and not bear the cross. I wasn’t sure why this was controversial, as biblically speaking, it clearly says that Christ was “tempted in every way.” Being tempted and succumbing to temptation are two different things.
I personally enjoy religious-themed films. I’m a Christian (who also believes in evolution). Many people have issues with that, particularly in the science fiction community. What I have found is that intolerance goes both ways. Some people are intolerant of people of faith, just some people are intolerant of ideas different than their own. So many people think you have to be one or the other: a believer in God or a believer in science. They leave no room for people to accept both.
I love LAST TEMPTATION, though I didn’t see it until well after its release (and controversy). The thing I remember thinking upon first-watch – and to this day – is that the people who cried “blasphemy” over it were missing the point. It seemed rather clear to me that the most wild ideas presented within the film were a work of fiction, all contained to “The Temptation”.
I was thinking then (as now) “Did you even SEE the movie?”
Even if I’m something of a lapsed-Catholic (which is to say I don’t attend mass any more), I too quite enjoy religious-themed movies. I’d actually be anxious to hear what you think of this one, as it’s the sort of story I believe gets to the heart of what we’ve been taught since Sunday school…that it’s how you live that’s most important, not which rulebook you decide to live by.
I have an anecdote about the God/Science debate, but I’ll probably email that to you as it’s a bit of a long story. Thanks for reading – and for participating!
Joining the chorus – I have never heard of this movie. It’s interesting that it’s an essential Canadian film though; I don’t think I know of any essential German film that most other film buffs haven’t heard of. To be honest, I think many non-Germans know more about German essential movies than I do.
By the way, I have to thank you for hosting this blogathon this month, from the heart – the movie I watched means a lot to me and I can’t stop thinking about it every day and night. I probably wouldn’t have seen it for a long time if it weren’t for the Blind Spot series!
I have to smile at your first point because my instinct is to say “Well, that’s because German films are so much more well-known!”. What can I say – we make some good ones up here from time to time (even took the Foreign language Film Oscar in 2003!), but they don’t exactly set the world on fire.
When I get a chance to properly go through everybody’s entries tomorrow, I’ll be sure to leave a proper comment…but suffice it to say I got a grin when I skimmed your piece on Sunday afternoon. I was taken back to the Friday night in the winter of 1998 when I went to see AMERICAN HISTORY X all by myself in a theatre. It gutted me. Up until very recently, I had to turn my head during the curbstomp scene.
I’m proud to have prompted you towards such an impactful movie – that’s exactly the sort of thing I want this series to achieve.
The only Denys film that I’ve seen is Stardom which was alright but this and The Barbarian Invasions are the ones I’m interested the most and I can see why this film is so revered.
Holy Hell – I’d actually totally forgotten that STARDOM was Arcand’s! It was actually the first film of his I watched, back in 2001 or 2002. If you have the chance, I’d definitely bump this and Invasions up the queue. The last time TIFF tallied up a Best Canadian Films list, both movies ranked in the top ten.
Come to think of it, they’re about due to revisit the list!
I love movies because the visual medium gives so many avenues to have different opinions (though you do have to shake your head at some). Of course I’ve not seen this movie, but you bring up an interesting point about people’s motivations when they object to a movie…why one and not another? And it’s fascinating to note whether they seem to have gotten the point or not of the film inspiriting the objection. You make us think as always. Cheers.
I might have misspoke a bit, since the ideas that the film poses aren’t all THAT controversial. The actors question what Christ might have looked like, the physics involved with a crucifixion, and even who his birth father might have been. It’s nothing in the vein of Christ hittin’ it with Mary Magdalene, but within the narrative otself, the church ain’t happy about it.
So if anything, the curious objection is why the points within the film raise eyebrows, but the film doesn’t.
Beautiful stills here! I’m not one for religion, but this looks intriguing and I don’t know if I’ve even seen a classic Canadian film in my life. Probably not. Lovely review, as usually. 🙂
The funny thing? The film actually looks better than these stills convey. Even on dvd, the visuals pop a bit better than they do here – especially that lead image of Catherine Wilkening walking through the fountain. I was actually a little bit bummed that I couldn’t find sharper images.
Thanks for reading – and for posting your own piece. If you wanted, I could give you a short playlist of Canadian film sometime.
WOW Ryan, I’ve never even heard of this film but I’m intrigued. I’ll definitely give Jesus of Montreal a rent, hopefully either Netflix or Amazon Instant has it. I was raised Catholic so I know some of my family members would have issues with this. I consider myself a Christ follower and I attend a non-denominational Christian church so naturally the subject matter intrigues me. I do have issues with films that seem to blatantly disparage/insult the Lord, but this one doesn’t seem to be the case.
Your family actually might go for it; There really is an emphasis on living out Christ’s teachings in a modern setting as opposed to arguing over the nitty-gritty of who he was and where he went. Like Courtney said – it was shown in an Anglican church up here! Heck, my old parish priest read this piece this afternoon and he dug the looks of it too.
Give it a look sometime – and thanks for posting again this month (comments coming soon)