The Gospel According to St. Matthew
1965 · 137 min · Drama
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
“A Motion Picture which will be seen by the entire world - up to the end of the world!”
Along a rocky, barren coastline, Jesus begins teaching, primarily using parables. He attracts disciples; he's stern, brusque, and demanding. His parables often take on the powers that be, so he and his teachings come to the attention of the Pharisees, the chief priests, and elders. They conspire to have him arrested, beaten, tried, and crucified, just as he prophesied to his followers.
Why it's worth watching
Pasolini's austere, neorealist retelling of Christ's life uses Matthew's Gospel almost verbatim, letting Christ's own words carry the film — widely regarded as one of the most reverent and powerful Jesus films ever made.
What it praises
The person, teaching, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, treated with striking fidelity and seriousness.
For discernment
Pasolini draws Christ's words almost verbatim from Matthew, and the result is one of the most textually faithful and reverent Jesus films ever made — austere, unsentimental, and letting the Sermon on the Mount and the parables land with their full sternness rather than softening Christ into a gentle teacher. The genuine value here is rare: a filmmaker who does not editorialize over Scripture but stages it plainly, which can renew a believer's hearing of familiar words. Two things a thoughtful Christian should hold in mind: Pasolini himself was an avowed Marxist and atheist who read Christ largely as a revolutionary siding with the poor against the powerful, so notice where the framing leans political rather than devotional; and the violence, while restrained, is real — Herod's soldiers slaughter village children, John is beheaded, Judas hangs himself, and this Christ audibly screams as the nails go in. Approached with those eyes, it is edifying and worth sitting with. Do not expect it to comfort so much as to confront.
- ViolenceHerod's soldiers massacre village children, John the Baptist is beheaded (off-screen), Judas hangs himself, and the crucifixion is portrayed with the men held down and nailed as Christ screams.
- WorldviewDirector Pasolini was a Marxist and atheist who framed Jesus partly as a social revolutionary; discerning viewers should note where the emphasis tilts political rather than devotional.
Cast
Enrique Irazoqui
Cristo
Margherita Caruso
Maria (Giovane)
Susanna Pasolini
Maria (Vecchia)
Marcello Morante
Giuseppe
Mario Socrate
Giovanni Battista
Settimio Di Porto
Pietro
Alfonso Gatto
Andrea
Luigi Barbini
Giacomo
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