2016 TV movie Joseph and Mary has a more focused and interesting concept, even if the end result is a rather drab, cheap-looking film. This one pays close attention to something that’s normally a footnote in the Nativity tale but, if you think about it, is actually really important. Director Roger Christian focuses on the effects and aftermath of King Herod (Lawrence Bayne)’s decree that all male children under the age of two must be killed. That’s some crazy shit if you stop and think about it.
The main character here is arguably actually Elijah (Steven McCarthy), a decent Rabbi in Nazareth who just happens to be pretty pally with the Joseph (Kevin Sorbo). This fictional tale presents Elijah as an important figure who was always there in the background of the Nativity story, kind of like that donkey in The Star. This one’s a lot bleaker, though and I’m constantly distracted by how much Elijah looks like England football manager Gareth Southgate.
When Herod’s men murder someone for bravely speaking out, Elijah vows to care for the dead man’s wife Rebekah (Katie Boland) and kids. Coincidentally, the rabbi and his new makeshift family are travelling to Bethlehem for the census at the same time as Joseph and Mary (Lara Jean Chorostecki) and get caught up in the whole baby killing thing. Interestingly, it’s hinted that this could all be partly Elijah’s fault, as he refuses to snitch and tell Herod where Jesus is, so some evil git called Tiberius (Sean Bell) bursts in and murders Rebekah’s kids. Harsh.
None of this is particularly Christmassy, it must be said, but this is a big part of the Nativity story that we all try to ignore when we’re decorating the tree. The rest of the film deals with the fallout. Rebekah makes Elijah swear bloody revenge but over the next twelve years, Elijah’s various encounters with a young Jesus (Lucius Hoyos) lead him to rethink his views on vengeance. So, the whole film focuses on the very Christian concepts of forgiveness and turning the other cheek, which is a big ask given Elijah’s circumstances. For me, it would be easier to accept the film’s whole anti-”eye for an eye” thing, if (SPOILER!!!) Elijah didn’t inadvertently kill Tiberius anyway.
This is clearly a cheapie TV effort but it looks okay. It’s one of those ones where nobody even attempts a regional accent but, overlooking that, the acting is decent. Sorbo - he of TV’s Hercules fame - apparently discovered Jesus late in his career, so good for him in helping to get this made, though I’d have preferred if he’d at least have tried to grow a gnarly beard.
I really appreciate that Joseph shows off his oft-mentioned but rarely displayed carpentry skills, so good job on that one. Special mention also goes to Boland as Rebekah who really throws herself into scenes, screaming hysterically, baying for blood. You get to see just how much this devastates her - how can she forgive the man that did this? Well, that’s very Christian of her.
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