Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal)

1989

Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal)

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

79%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 14

87%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 5,407
User image

Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal) Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

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.

Cast

Lothaire Bluteau
as Daniel
Catherine Wilkening
as Mireille
Johanne-Marie Tremblay
as Constance
Rémy Girard
as Martin
Robert Lepage
as Rene
Gilles Pelletier
as Fr. Leclerc
Yves Jacques
as Richard Cardinal
Denys Arcand
as The Judge
Cedric Noel
Paule Baillargeon
Boris Bergman
Gaston Lepage
Marc Messier
Marcel Sabourin
Roy Dupuis
Andree Lachapelle
Denis Bouchard
Pauline Martin
Ron Lea
Jean-Louis Millette
Anna-Maria Giannotti
Monique Miller
Tom Rack
Christine-Ann Atallah
Marie-Christine Barrault
as Dubbing actress
Judith Magre
as Dubbing actress
Isabelle Truchon
Véronique Le Flaguais
Michael Barnard
Sylvie Drapeau
Lea Marie Cantin
Susan Bain
Paul Tana
Dean Hagopian
View All

Critic Reviews for Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal)

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (3)

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

    Jun 13, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

    Emanuel Levy

    EmanuelLevy.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.

    Nov 4, 2004 | Rating: 2/5

    Jake Euker

    Filmcritic.com

  • 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.

    Aug 31, 2002 | Full Review…

    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

    Spirituality and Practice
View All Critic Reviews (14)

Audience Reviews for Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal)

  • Jun 07, 2011
    only getting around to this now, i found it dull at times, and it just dident grab me where it needed to.
    scott g Super Reviewer
  • Feb 15, 2010
    My very first of a lot of things. My first indie. My first foray into Quebecois film. My first look at a Denys Arcand film..and the first time seeing the multitalented Robert Lepage. There is not surprise that many of the alumni of this production went on to succesful careers. It is a great film.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • May 09, 2008
    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.
    Dannielle A Super Reviewer
  • Mar 05, 2008
    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.
    Joey N Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal) Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features