Jesus of Nazareth

Why it's worth watching

Jesus of Nazareth is a deeply moving and spiritually enriching portrayal of Jesus Christ's life, ministry, and sacrifice. It holds up virtues such as faith, redemption, and selflessness.

For discernment

Zeffirelli's landmark six-hour dramatization remains one of the most reverent and faithful screen accounts of Christ's birth, ministry, passion, and resurrection, drawn largely straight from the Gospels — a genuinely edifying watch that treats Scripture with weight and beauty. The intensity to prepare for is the Passion and the surrounding history: Jesus is whipped, beaten, and crucified with three bloodied men shown on crosses, Herod's slaughter of the infants is harrowing (wailing mothers, screaming babies, though the killing isn't graphically shown), Judas hangs himself, and zealots are killed somewhat bloodily. Language is period-appropriate ('w****,' occasional 'd***'/'hell') and characters drink wine. This is worth watching slowly and prayerfully; the weight of the crucifixion is meant to move you, not merely to be endured.

• ViolenceJesus is whipped, beaten, and crucified with three bloodied men on crosses; zealots are killed somewhat bloodily, a man commits suicide by hanging, and Herod's massacre of infants is intense though not graphically shown.
• Language'W****' is used several times, with occasional 'd***' and 'hell,' fitting the period.
• SubstancesCharacters drink wine, as in the biblical setting.

Cast

Robert Powell

Jesus

Olivia Hussey

Virgin Mary

Yorgo Voyagis

Joseph

Anne Bancroft

Mary Magdalene

Christopher Plummer

Herod Antipas

Anthony Quinn

Caiaphas

Ian McShane

Judas Iscariot

Ernest Borgnine

The Centurion

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