Relationship is key in Magdalene film
Every July for the past 23 years I have joined in beautiful celebrations honoring St. Mary of Magdala. To prepare for her feast this year, I viewed director Garth Davis' "Mary Magdalene" film [1] starring Rooney Mara as Mary Magdalene, Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Peter.
Predictably, the movie attracted both praise [2] and criticism [3]. I loved John Anderson's positive summation in America [4]: " 'Mary Magdalene' is in many ways an act of love, an effort to tell its story both freshly and honestly, with fidelity to Scripture."
I groaned over Michael Ward's complaint [5] about what he saw as the "glacial pace" of a movie that focuses more on the faith-filled relationship between Mary and Jesus than on the shazam of miracles, parables, or gory action-packed passion footage. This film's portrayal of the crucifixion is agonizing but there is no gratuitous glorification of violence a la Mel Gibson.
While I concur with Sr. Rose Pacatte's opinion [6] that the film is perfect for Holy Week, it is also a perfect way to celebrate this eminent "Apostle to the Apostles" on or around her July 22 feast day. (Another great way to celebrate is to download free resources [7] from FutureChurch.)
Written by Helen Edmudson and Philippa Goslett, the film is both cinematically beautiful and well-grounded in contemporary scholarship about the religious and political context in which Jesus and Mary sought God and God's reign.