Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal) (1989)

79% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(5,214 ratings)

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 stars as Daniel Coloumbe, an intense young actor in Montreal who is hired by church fathers to restage… More 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 stars 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

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Denys Arcand
Written By: Denys Arcand
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: May 17, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Feb 3, 2004
Studio: Orion Classics

Critic Reviews

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.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
An art-house version of the Passion--a story-within-a-story so powerful that it can't be contained within the performance.
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.
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.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Dannielle A

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 was… More
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 was portrayed in this movie as just another man.
Joey N

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.
Anthony V

Underrated film. Great allegory.
Linda K

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.

Cast

            Lothaire Bluteau as Daniel Coloumbe

            Catherine Wilkening as Mireille

            Johanne-Marie Tremblay as Constance

            Rémy Girard as Martin

            Robert Lepage as Rene

            Gilles Pelletier as Father Leclerc

            Denys Arcand as The Judge

            Paule Baillargeon
            
            Marie-Christine Barrault as Dubbing actress

            Boris Bergman
            
            Roy Dupuis
            
            Ron Lea
            
            Gaston Lepage
            
            Judith Magre as Dubbing actress

            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
            
See full cast