Mary Magdalene (2018 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Garth Davis (director), Helen Edmundson (screenplay), Philippa Goslett (screenplay) |
| Products | Biblical drama film |
| Parent | Universal Pictures, Film4 Productions, See-Saw Films |
Mary Magdalene is a 2018 biblical drama that centers on the life of its titular figure. The screenplay was crafted by Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett, with direction by Garth Davis. The cast features Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Tahar Rahim in leading roles.
The film debuted at London's National Gallery on February 26, 2018. Its distribution began in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2018, through Universal Pictures, followed by an Australian release on March 22, 2018, via Transmission Films. The United States release occurred on April 12, 2019, under IFC Films. The musical score represents the final composition of Jóhann Jóhannsson prior to his passing. Globally, the movie earned a total of $12 million.
Plot
Set in AD 30 during Roman occupation of Judea, the narrative follows Mary from Magdala as she becomes a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Despite resistance from her family, she undergoes baptism and embraces Jesus’s command to baptize others. Mary claims spiritual leadership alongside the apostles, which leads to tension with male disciples such as Saint Peter. She remains present through the events of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, but when other disciples reject her role, Peter accuses her of undermining their unity, resulting in their estrangement. Determined, Mary pledges to independently continue spreading Jesus’s teachings.
The closing text clarifies that early church traditions wrongly branded Mary as a prostitute; however, she is now acknowledged as one of Jesus’s twelve apostles.
Cast
- Rooney Mara portraying Mary Magdalene
- Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus of Nazareth
- Chiwetel Ejiofor in the role of Peter
- Tahar Rahim playing Judas
- Sarah-Sofie Boussnina as Martha, a close friend of Mary
- Hadas Yaron cast as Sarah
- Lubna Azabal in the role of Susannah
- Lior Raz as Leader of the Magdala community
- Ryan Corr portraying Joseph
- Tchéky Karyo as Elisha, Mary's father
- Jacopo Olmo Antinori as a man from Magdala
- Shira Haas playing Leah
- Uri Gavriel as Philip
- David Schofield in the role of Thomas
- Charles Babalola portraying Andrew
- Tawfeek Barhom as James
- Tzachi Halevy playing Ephraim, a suitor candidate for Mary
- Zohar Strauss as John
- Michael Moshonov portraying Matthew
- Ariane Labed in the role of Rachel
- Theo Theodoridis as Lazarus
- Denis Ménochet playing Daniel, Mary's brother
- Irit Sheleg as the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus
Production
In February 2016, Rooney Mara was announced to star as Mary Magdalene with Garth Davis attached to direct. Production was a collaboration between Universal Pictures, Film4 Productions, and See-Saw Films, with Iain Canning and Emile Sherman serving as producers. By April 2016, Joaquin Phoenix entered negotiations to take on the role of Jesus Christ. The cast expanded in July 2016 to include Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tahar Rahim. Hadas Yaron joined the ensemble in September 2016. The film’s score was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir alongside Jóhann Jóhannsson; this marked Jóhannsson’s final contribution before his death in 2018.
Principal photography occurred from October 3 through December 2, 2016. Filming locations encompassed Rome and several sites across Southern Italy such as Matera (Basilicata), Gravina in Puglia (Apulia), Trapani (Sicily), and Naples (Campania).
Release
In February 2016, distribution rights for the film were reported to have been acquired by The Weinstein Company. The original release date for the United States and Canada was set for November 24, 2017; however, it was postponed to March 30, 2018, before being removed from the schedule in January 2018. Following this, by March 2018, the Weinstein Company relinquished distribution responsibilities, leading producers to search for an alternative distributor. Ultimately, IFC Films secured the US distribution rights and released the film on April 12, 2019.
The film’s debut occurred at London's National Gallery on February 26, 2018. It was subsequently showcased at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival on February 28 and later premiered in Australia on March 22, 2018.
Reception
According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating based on 114 reviews, with an average score noted. The critical consensus reads: "Mary Magdalene clearly respects its subject; regrettably, it lacks sufficient drive or character complexity to engage viewers fully." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 48 out of 100 from 24 critics, reflecting "mixed or average reviews."
Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com gave the film four stars, describing it as "an exceptional film" that "affected me in a way no previous Christian-themed movie ever has."
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony Date | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards | 3 December 2018 | Best Actress | Rooney Mara | Template:Nom |
| Best Original Music Score | Hildur Guðnadóttir, Jóhann Jóhannsson | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Costume Design | Jacqueline Durran | Template:Nom | ||
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 29 November 2018 | Best Actress | Rooney Mara | Template:Nom |
| Best Original Score | Hildur Guðnadóttir, Jóhann Jóhannsson | Template:Won |