The Nativity Story (2006)

The Nativity Story pays serious attention to making an authentic representation of life in Judea two thousand years ago, even reciting the Jewish prayers in Hebrew (although the balance of the dialog is spoken in stiffly accented English). As such it feels like The Ten Commandments meets The Passion of the Christ -- though with fewer chariot races and less bloodletting if not diminished mortal angst. Our story begins with the Slaughter of the Innocents before reviewing the events of the year that led to Herod's genocidal edict. Keisha Castle-Hughes as Mary and Oscar Isaac as Joseph are thoroughly convincing and emotionally transparent as the betrothed couple that confronts a social taboo yet continues to embrace each other -- through the continually clarifying lens of faith in God. (Angelic messengers by day and by night also help on occasion.) While fundamentalists will spew their grape juice and protest that any detail or dialog not literally in the Bible is therefore unscriptural or blasphemous (which is why they are called Protestants), Catholics and those evangelicals who cling to their humanity as well as their dogma should find The Nativity Story to be an exceptionally authentic, spiritual, and scripturally resonant rendering of the real-life drama surrounding the birth of the baby Jesus. It's certainly an emotionally evocative and compelling movie that my family intends to own and to watch at least once a year. 4.5 stars.