Jesus of Montreal

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Jesus of Montreal ★★★½ Jesus de Montreal 1989 (R)

A vagrant young actor (stage-trained Canadian star Bluteau) is hired by a Montreal priest to produce a fresh interpretation of an Easter passion play. Taking the good book at its word, he produces a contemporized literal telling that captivates audiences, inflames the men of the cloth, and eventually wins the players' faith. Quebecois director Arcand (keep an eye out for him as the judge) tells a compelling, acerbically satirical and haunting story that never forces its Biblical parallels. In French with English subtitles. 119m/C VHS, DVD . FR CA Gilles Pelletier, Lothaire Bluteau, Catherine Wilkening, Robert Lepage, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Remy Girard, Marie-Christine Barrault; D: Denys Arcand; W: Denys Arcand; C: Guy Dufaux; M: Jean-Marie Benoit, Francois Dompierre, Yves Laferriere. Cannes ‘89: Special Jury Prize; Genie ‘90: Actor (Girard), Director (Arcand), Film, Support. Actor (Girard).

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