Mary (2005 film)

Mary (2005 film)
Mary is a 2005 drama thriller film, written and directed by American director Abel Ferrara. The film stars Juliette Binoche, Forest Whitaker, Marion Cotillard, Matthew Modine and Heather Graham.
The film premiered at the 2005 Venice Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize as well as 3 smaller awards. The film also played at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, Deauville Film Festival and San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Although co-produced by an American and French film company and shot in English and partly in the United States, the film has been little seen outside of Europe, and does not have a Region 1 DVD release. It received a limited theatrical release in America a full 3 years after premiering at the Venice Film Festival. The film has 3 European non-English language websites, but no English language website.
UK DVDs use the title Mary: This is My Blood.
Plot summary
Following the shooting of a film on the life of Jesus called This Is My Blood, Marie Palesi, the actress who plays Mary Magdalene takes refuge in Jerusalem in search of the truth behind the story, while the film's director, who also plays Jesus, returns to New York to aggressively promote the film.
The film within a film is drawing public controversy for reasons that are never directly specified, but some scenes in the film draw on the non-canonical Gnostic Gospels, while there are public allegations that the film is anti-Semitic for reasons that are not given.
In New York, television journalist Ted Younger (Forest Whitaker) is presenting a series of programs about the life of Jesus, and chooses to interview the film's director. Privately, Younger is having a crisis of faith.
Cast
Forest Whitaker – Ted Younger
Juliette Binoche – Marie Palesi/Mary Magdalene
Matthew Modine – Tony Childress/Jesus
Heather Graham – Elizabeth Younger
Marion Cotillard – Gretchen Mol
Stefania Rocca – Brenda Sax
Francine Berting – Nurse #2
Giovanni Capalbo – Police man
Massimo Cortesi – Priest
Ettore D'Alessandro – Apostle Andrew
Alex Grazioli – Apostle Matthew
Emanuela Iovannitti – Johanna, Mary's follower
Marco Leonardi – Apostle Peter
Amos Luzzatto – himself
Thure Riefenstein – Silvanus
Gisella Marengo – Nurse Nicu
Mario Opinato – Apostle James
Gabriella Wright – TV technician
Dominot – First Angel
Elaine Pagels
Jean-Yves Leloup
Reception
Upon its release Mary immediately divided critics and viewers alike, it holds a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 17 reviews, with an average score of 5.5/10.
Positive
"A sincere grapple with faith and redemption in cynical times." – Leslie Felperrin, Variety
"Somehow turns confusion into a concise study on what it means to believe in God in this day and age." – Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
"..both Forest Whitaker and Juliette Binoche (as with the rest of the cast) give such amazing performances that they should be added to the list of the best work of their careers." – Michael Ferraro, Film Threat
Negative
"Ferrara presents his ideas in what's meant to be a meditation on the nature of faith but ends up an incoherent, pretentious mess." – Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
"Some critics went as far as rebaptising (excuse the pun) the director "Unable Ferrara" after the press screening here in Venice." – Boyd van Hoeij, Europeanfilms.net
"Murky and forgettable." – Ray Bennett, The Hollywood Reporter
Soundtrack
The original soundtrack was written by Francis Kuipers.
Track listing
"Mary (prologue)" – 1.53
"They Took my Lord" – 6.15
"Disciples & Discord" – 4.04
"Street Attack" – 1.06
"Mary in the Desert" – 3.54
"Gnostic Gospel" – 3.29
"Women at Sea" – 1.56
"Sacred Heart" – 3.18
"Among Believers" – 2.50
"Holy Land Explosion" – 1.25
"Madness of God" – 3.36
"This is my Blood" – 5.43
"Hidden Scripture" – 2.53
"Mary (Epilogue)" – 3.35
Soundtrack credits
Francis Kuipers – Guitar
Miriam Butler – Bassoon
David Barittoni – Voices
Giulio Luciani – Viola, violin
Roberto Bellatalla – Double Bass
Paola Di Silvestro – Soprano
Fabio Colucci – Music producer and mixer
Recorded at Herzog Studios, Rome (Italy)
Awards
Venice Film Festival 2005
Grand Jury Prize
Mimmo Rotella Foundation Award
SIGNIS Award
Sergio Trasatti Award
French film poster
The French poster for Mary features a woman praying at an altar. The image was taken in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The film was the first film to be allowed film in the actual church.
References
External links
Mary – Official French Site
Mary – Official Polish Site
Mary – Official Italian Site
2005 thriller films
2005 films
American thriller films
2000s English-language films
Films about religion
Films directed by Abel Ferrara
Films shot in Matera
2000s French-language films
2000s Hebrew-language films
Portrayals of Mary Magdalene in film
Venice Grand Jury Prize winners
2005 drama films
2005 multilingual films
2000s American films