Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal) poster & wallpaper
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Lothaire Bluteau, Catherine Wilkening, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Rémy Girard, Robert Lepage ... see more see more... , Gilles Pelletier , Denys Arcand , Paule Baillargeon , Marie-Christine Barrault , Boris Bergman , Roy Dupuis , Ron Lea , Gaston Lepage , Judith Magre , Tom Rack , Marcel Sabourin , Isabelle Truchon , Paul Tana , Andree Lachapelle , Anna-Maria Giannotti , Jean-Louis Millette , Marc Messier , Denis Bouchard , Monique Miller , Cedric Noel , Lea Marie Cantin , Susan Bain , Sylvie Drapeau , Dean Hagopian , Michael Barnard , Pauline Martin

A modern-day Passion Play becomes a reenactment of the life and death of Jesus Christ in more ways than one with this critically acclaimed drama from Quebec filmmaker Denys Arcand. Lothaire Bluteau st... read more read more...ars as Daniel Coloumbe, an intense young actor in Montreal who is hired by church fathers to restage and update the city's annual Passion Play, which over the course of the past 40 years has begun to seem hidebound. Daniel hires a group of struggling young actors that become devoted to him and his creative vision as he devises an extremely avant-garde production that takes Christ's rebellious teachings literally. Revolving around set pieces reflecting passages from Christ's life rather than a traditional re-creation of events, Daniel's revisionist work also incorporates blasphemous ideas about his subject, questioning his true nature. Daniel's play is a critical smash and wows mesmerized audiences, but greatly disturbed church officials order the labor of love dismantled. Real life begins imitating biblical events as the actors become cast-outs and Daniel smashes up an audition in which the actress portraying his Mary Magdalene (Catherine Wilkening) is asked to disrobe by a prurient producer. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

85% liked it

5,214 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Denys Arcand

Release Date: May 17, 1989

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DVD Release Date: February 3, 2004

Stats: 272 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (272)

  • crazydannielle16
    May 9, 2008
    crazydannielle16
    The movie has some good points: that consumerism, materialism, are hedonism are empty lifestyles. Pop culture... (wealth, sex, the media) is worshipped like a god. The major problem with this movie is the portrayal of Christ. He is the Son of God... the Savior of the world. He wa... read mores portrayed in this movie as just another man.
  • zeravenyoej
    March 5, 2008
    zeravenyoej
    I liked the first half of this, but by the end it was just too much, and getting too obvious. The clever, calling-of-the-disciples allusion is my favorite, and the play itself is rather absorbing.
  • threefolddado
    May 4, 2009
    threefolddado
    Underrated film. Great allegory.
  • shannylee38
    January 19, 2007
    shannylee38
    Arcand's depiction on religion and Montreal itself have somewhat not change until now (almost 20 years later). The film opens on a lot of subjects that still not resolved yet which gives the viewers a great opinion on a part of Montrealers ways of living.
  • vadermccandless
    May 22, 2012
    vadermccandless
    Arcand explores themes and addresses ideas here most filmmakers would be frightened of attempting to explore. It isn't perfect (it's too long and muddled in it's own backstories), but Jesus of Montreal is fascinating.
  • louiebergsagel1
    February 8, 2008
    louiebergsagel1
    When I saw this movie, I grew angry, thinking it was mocking my religion. Then I got shivers all over when I realized I was thinking just like the Pharisees and Saducees of Jesus' time. This movie is vying for my all-time favorite.

View All Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
June 13, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Denys Arcand made this original movie, in which life imitates art, at the peak of his career, right after Decline of the American Empire. Full Review

Jake Euker
November 4, 2004
Jake Euker, Filmcritic.com

Bluteau has taken his Daniel too seriously, Daniel has taken his Jesus too seriously, and Arcand’s resolute detachment brings the whole conception down. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 31, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Inventive, witty, illuminating: about a contemporary staging of the Passion play, the institutional church's reverence for the status quo, & the false gods of secularism. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

May 17, 1989
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Cole Smithey
November 6, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Nicolas Lacroix
March 11, 2004
Nicolas Lacroix, EnPrimeur.ca

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Daniel Coloumbe: Life's hard to bear, huh? People aren't happy. That's why. It's the reason. The great events, even theatre, all in search of happiness. The source of life is hidden. I was forsaken by my father.
    • Mireille: We're here. You're not alone.
    • Daniel Coloumbe: All these buildings, these great structures, not a stone will be left some day.
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