Review of Risen (2016) by Kim S — 26 Feb 2016

Risen: An Inspirational and Thoughtful Faith-Based Cinematic Resurrection Drama.

When writing a movie review, one canâ??t include a â??spoilerâ??, revealing the ending to viewers who donâ??t know the storyline. No such problem with Risen; anyone with roots in a Judeo-Christian society is familiar with how the New Testament story endsâ?¦or begins, depending on your belief and faith. (Full disclosure: my own Christian beliefs have been life-long).

Hollywood has at times presented stories from the Bible in a syrupy or schmalzy manner, appealing to a limited audience of those believers already firmly grounded in their faith. Risen, just released, starring Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, and Cliff Curtis, will touch and appeal to those in the audience at many, or any, point along the often circuitous and wavering path trodden by all who seek spiritual answers on each of our individual journeys through life. Seen through the eyes of a Roman centurion Claudius (Joseph Fiennes), who believes in Caesar, and prays to Mars, the Roman god of war, the audience accompanies him as he wrestles with the reality of witnessing, indeed, directing, the Crucifixion of Yeshua/Jesus (Cliff Curtis), as well arriving at a slow dawning of a skeptical consideration of the possibility of His Resurrection, and the attempts at suppression of the these events by the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) and the governing Jewish body of the Sanhedrin.

The previews intrigued me: a time-travel to Israel and the Roman Empire of two millennia ago, accurately depicting the brutal existence of primitive survival that was the norm, the over-riding dominance and attempts at order cast by Rome, and the fragility and little value or worth of the individual. The movie delivered so much more: a dramatic presentation of the threat a man claiming to be The Messiah presented to the existing Roman and Jewish authorities, as well as a personalization of those names and events learned long ago in Sunday School or through common culture and schooling, such as the historic figures of each of the disciples and followers of Jesus, and several of the miracles reported in the New Testament including healing of a leper.

Joseph Fiennesâ?? portrayal of Claudius, the Roman centurion ordered to find the missing body of Jesus, is surprisingly the chief character and focal point of Risen, rather than Yeshua/Jesus, and assists in helping the film avoid appearing as proselytizing propaganda, but rather a dramatic depiction of historical events, albeit from a clearly faith-based perspective.

I was riveted and moved by this outstanding cinematic depiction of events long in my mindâ??s eye, and found it particularly inspiring during this Lenten, pre-Good Friday time of year, helping prepare my spirit for the celebration of Easter and all it promises for eternity. You will not be disappointed in your investment of a couple hours of your time experiencing Risen.