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Pages High Life
Features
December 20, 2006
The Nativity Story’ makes an old
story new in time for Christmas
BYDANIEL ARONSON
Sports Editor
Perhaps the most familiar
story ever told is the birth of
Jesus. "The Nativity Story"
a modern movie about the
historical biblical account of
Mary and Joseph's journey
from Nazareth to Bethlehem,
describes the birth of Jesus
Christ. Director Catherine
Hardwicke and writer Mike
Rich make the tale marvel
ously fresh and new.
"Nativity Story" focuses
more on the characters than
other biblical narratives that
give account of the story of
fhe birfh of Jesus. Fortu-
nafely, the young and attrac
tive appearances of un
known actors Keisha Castle-
Hughes and Oscar Isaac do
not detract from the miracu
lous story. Viewers truly be
lieve they are witnessing an
accurate account of life in
Palestine during the fea
tured time period.
Characterizing Mary and
Joseph as simple people pre
vents the viewer from being
overwhelmed by the immen
sity of the plot; the birth of
Jesus Christ and Herod's at
tempt to kill the prophesied
King of the Jews. The movie
displays the hardships the
Jews are enduring under the
oppression and heavy taxa
tion of the Roman Empire.
Mary and Joseph are de
picted as simple people
caught in the most extraor
dinary circumstances.
"Nativity Story" begins
months before the Holy
Spirit impregnates Mary, an
ordinary young girl, who
lives with her hardworking,
poor parents. Her father
arranges a marriage to Jo
seph, a tender, kind-hearted
man, an idea Mary is not
too excited about. How
ever, the engagement lasts
a year, long enough for
Mary to warm up to the
idea. One fateful night, an
angel visits her and tells her
she will bear a child who
will save her people from
their sins. The movie is
strongly based around
Mary and the reactions of
Joseph, her parents and the
community to her becom
ing pregnant out of wed
lock. Because adultery was
a crime punishable by ston
ing, Mary was scorned and
looked down upon, and
even faced threats on her
life. Joseph agrees to mar
riage despite not being the
father of Mary's child, re
sulting in both becoming
outcasts in their commu
nity. Fortunately for them,
the angel Gabriel speaks to
both Mary and Joseph and
brings them peace.
According to the Roman
Empire, every citizen must re
turn to their place of birth to
be coimted in a census. Joseph
and a very pregnant Mary
make the perilous 100-mile
journey from Nazareth to
Bethlehem, with Mary riding
on a donkey and Joseph on
foot. As they make this dan
gerous voyage across the
mountains and deserts, their
love for each ofher grows
stronger. Their faith grows as
they realize the significance of
the task God has given them.
The viewer feels deeply for
Mary, and her pain of child
birth, and the love Joseph
shows to his young bride.
Even though the story of
the birth of Jesus is familiar to
most, Hardwicke still man
ages to keep the audience on
the edge of their seats. With
climaxes such as the wise men
seeing the star, and King
Herod's evil plot to kill the
first-bom males in Bethlehem,
the story is enthralling. With
excellent cinematography
and breath-taking images, the
film is a fresh retelling of an
ancient story. The "Nativity
Story" truly reminds view’-
ers that Jesus is the reason
for the season.
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