Review of The Nativity Story (2006) by Rakeya B — 11 Jul 2011

The Nativity Story was a movie worth watching over and over again. The story begins with a look at the ending-King Herod ordering all the sons in Bethlehem from birth to two years to be executed. This crucial scene was the background for the entire movie as well as an insight into the basis of the religion of Christianity.

The movie highlights the beginning of the life of Jesus Christ, one of the deities in the Christian religion. Mary, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes, was from a poor family in Nazareth and was unwillingly betrothed to marry a poor farmer named Joseph, played by Oscar Isaac, by her father, Zachariah. The law back then stated that Mary must remain a virgin for one year before moving into her husband's house and consummating their marriage. Shortly after, the angel Gabriel came to Mary in a vision and informed her that she would become "pregnant with the Messiah" and she was to call him Jesus. Even though Mary knew nobody would believe she had been faithful to her vows, she acquiesced and requested to go and visit her cousin Elizabeth, who Gabriel had told her was also pregnant. Shortly after Mary returned home and Joseph announced he would accept the child as his own, a roman census was ordered and Joseph had to return to his homeland of Bethlehem and Mary traveled with him. King Herod was furiously searching for and executing everyone he thought was the "Messiah" throughout the movie. Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem just as she was going into labor. Jesus was born in a manger and visited by shepherds from neighboring towns, as well as three wise men (who were also astronomers that followed the prophecy of the star), that brought gifts of gold, incense, and muhr to celebrate his birth.

This story relates closely to world religions because it relays the story of how Christianity came to be based upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. This was definitely a movie I'd watch again and again.