Mary (2005 film)

Mary
Film poster
Directed by	Abel Ferrara
Produced by	Roberto De Nigris David Hausen Fernando Sulichin
Written by	Abel Ferrara Mario Isabella Simone Lageolas Scott Pardo
Starring	Juliette Binoche Forest Whitaker Marion Cotillard Matthew Modine Heather Graham Victoria Justice
Music by	Francis Kuipers
Cinematography	Stefano Falivene
Editing by	Patrizio Marone Adam Mcclelland Fabio Nunziata Langdon Page Julia Ruell
Studio	Central Films
Distributed by	Pan Europeene (France) IFC Films (USA)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	Italy France United States
Language	English Hebrew French

Mary is a 2005 drama thriller film, written and directed by American director Abel Ferrara. The film stars Juliette Binoche, Forest Whitaker, Marion Cotillard, Matthew Modine and Heather Graham.

The film premiered at the 2005 Venice Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize as well as 3 smaller awards. The film also played at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival, Deauville Film Festival and San Sebastián International Film Festival.

Plot summary

Following the shooting of a film on the life of Jesus called This Is My Blood, Marie Palesi (Juliette Binoche), the actress who plays Mary Magdalene takes refuge in Jerusalem in search of the truth behind the myth.

The director of the film, Tony Childress (Matthew Modine), who also plays Jesus, can think of only one thing: self promotion.

In New York, television journalist Ted Younger (Forest Whitaker) presents a programme about the life of Jesus.

Cast

• Juliette Binoche – Marie Palesi/Mary Magdalene
• Forest Whitaker – Ted Younger
• Matthew Modine – Tony Childress/Jesus
• Heather Graham – Elizabeth Younger
• Marion Cotillard – Gretchen Mol
• Stefania Rocca – Brenda Sax
• Francine Berting – Nurse #2
• Giovanni Capalbo – Police man
• Massimo Cortesi – Priest
• Ettore D'Alessandro – Apostle Andrew
• Alex Grazioli – Apostle Matthew
• Emanuela Iovannitti – Johanna, Mary's follower
• Marco Leonardi – Apostle Peter
• Amos Luzzatto – himself
• Thure Riefenstein – Silvanus
• Victoria Justice – Stella
• Gisella Marengo – Nurse Nicu
• Mario Opinato – Apostle James
• Gabriella Wright – TV technician
• Elaine Pagels
• Jean Yves Leloup

Themes and imagery

Feminism

One of the central concerns of Mary is the examination of the feminine within the Catholic tradition. Like The Da Vinci Code the film puts forward the theory that Mary Magdalene is much more significant than the Catholic Gospels would suggest. However while The Da Vinci Code suggests that Mary Magdalene was the lover or wife of Jesus, Ferrara's film presents the theory that she was in fact one of the disciples and a trusted confidante of Christ.

Holy Trinity

Mary presents three narrative threads which represent the three elements of the Holy Trinity.

Marie Palesi on her spiritual quest and her relationship with Mary Magdalene represents The Holy Spirit.

Ted Younger, whose wife has just given birth, represents The Holy Father.

Tony Childress (literally Childress) represents The Holy Son.

Screens

Screens play an important part in Mary. Each of the three main protagonists are involved in the moving image. Marie Palesi is an actress. Tony Childress is a director and actor, while Ted Younger presents a religious TV programme. Ferrera presents constant images of cinema and TV screens. Younger watches constant images of violence from the middle east. He is presented as being somewhat separated from reality, engaging through screens of different sorts. New York is seen only through his car window, he gazes at his baby son through the glass of an incubator and looks at his wife's reflection in a mirror.

Reception

Upon its release Mary immediately divided critics and viewers alike.

Positive

• "A sincere grapple with faith and redemption in cynical times." – Leslie Felperrin, Variety^[1]
• "Somehow turns confusion into a concise study on what it means to believe in God in this day and age." – Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com^[2]
• "..both Forest Whitaker and Juliette Binoche (as with the rest of the cast) give such amazing performances that they should be added to the list of the best work of their careers." – Michael Ferraro, Film Threat^[3]

Negative

• "Ferrara presents his ideas in what's meant to be a meditation on the nature of faith but ends up an incoherent, pretentious mess." – Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly^[4]
• "Some critics went as far as rebaptising (excuse the pun) the director "Unable Ferrara" after the press screening here in Venice." – Boyd van Hoeij, Europeanfilms.net^[5]
• "Murky and forgettable." – Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter^[6]

Soundtrack

The original soundtrack was written by Francis Kuipers.

Tracklisting

• "Mary (prologue)" – 1.53
• "They Took my Lord" – 6.15
• "Disciples & Discord" – 4.04
• "Street Attack" – 1.06
• "Mary in the Desert" – 3.54
• "Gnostic Gospel" – 3.29
• "Women at Sea" – 1.56
• "Sacred Heart" – 3.18
• "Among Believers" – 2.50
• "Holy Land Explosion" – 1.25
• "Madness of God" – 3.36
• "This is my Blood" – 5.43
• "Hidden Scripture" – 2.53
• "Mary (Epilogue)" – 3.35

Soundtrack credits

• Francis Kuipers – Guitar
• Miriam Butler – Bassoon
• David Barittoni – Voices
• Giulio Luciani – Viola, violin
• Roberto Bellatalla – Double Bass
• Paola Di Silvestro – Soprano
• Fabio Colucci – Music producer and mixer

Recorded at Herzog Studios, Rome (Italy)

Awards

Venice Film Festival 2005

• Grand Jury Prize
• Mimmo Rotella Foundation Award
• SIGNIS Award
• Sergio Trasatti Award

French film poster

French poster for "Mary" ©2005 Wild Bunch.

The French poster for Mary features a woman praying at an altar. The image was taken in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The film was the first film to be allowed film in the actual church.

References

1. ^ FELPERIN, LESLIE (Sep. 19, 2005). "Mary". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928154.html?categoryId=31&cs=1. 
2. ^ Cabin, Chris. "Mary". filmcritic.com. http://filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/2a460f93626cd4678625624c007f2b46/8ae843360035ae2988257150007b182d?OpenDocument. 
3. ^ Ferraro, Michael (2006-06-15). "MARY". Film Threat. http://filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=9067. 
4. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
5. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
6. ^ [3]^{[dead link]}

External links

• Mary – Official French Site
• Mary – Official Polish Site
• Mary – Official Italian Site
• Mary at the Internet Movie Database