Description
Illuminates Global Interpretations of Biblical Narratives Through Cinematic Storytelling and Critical Analysis
In a media landscape increasingly shaped by images, biblical narratives are now encountered more often through film than through text. Nevertheless, the interpretive frameworks needed to engage these portrayals critically are seldom developed with the same care as traditional textual analysis. In addition, discussions of Bible films largely engage American productions only. Bible and Film: An International and Intercultural Exploration situates cinematic adaptations of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament within a global conversation. Rather than centering only familiar American productions, the book draws together films from a wide range of cultural and historical contexts to reveal how particular settings, artistic traditions, and social assumptions shape the way biblical stories are visualized and understood.
Bible and Film offers a structured and accessible approach to film analysis designed for both classroom and independent study. Each chapter places multiple cinematic treatments of a single biblical narrative into dialogue, enabling comparative interpretation grounded in clearly defined analytical issues introduced at the outset. Technical elements of film form, such as sound, editing, and narrative framing are integrated into the discussion and reinforced by an accompanying glossary, equipping readers with terminology and tools to articulate their insights.
Designed to strengthen readers' capacity to interpret biblical texts and films alike, Bible and Film:
- Examines seventy years of biblical filmmaking across multiple countries and production traditions
- Covers lesser-known regional and non-Western films that are rarely discussed in English-language scholarship
- Pairs international case studies with focused interpretive questions to reveal how the same biblical story shifts across cultures
- Provides a curated framework of six analytical issues applied consistently throughout the book
- Supports modular teaching, allowing individual chapters to stand alone in course design
Emphasizing collaborative, dialogical approaches to film interpretation and discussion, Bible and Film: An International and Intercultural Exploration is ideal forupper-level undergraduates, seminary students, and graduate learners in theology, religious studies, and film studies.
'Bible and Film is a most helpful resource for those who want to examine the interplay between film and the biblical text. From La Genese to The Ten Commandments to Jesus of Montreal, Melody Knowles invites readers to consider the cultures and contexts of filmmakers and their audiences as they naviagte the cultures and contexts of the biblical world. The result is an engaging and critical review of films and the stories they tell. Filled with helpful guides and summaries, Bible and Film is informative and insightful, and encourages us to see through new lenses'
–Judy Fentress-Williams, Ph.D, Dodge Professor of Biblical Interpretation, Virginia Theological Seminary
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments viii
Chapter 1: Screening Biblical Films in an International and Intercultural Context 1
Interculturality and the Bible 5
Interpreting the Tower of Babel Story as a Case Study in Cultural Difference 7
The Bible on Films from Around the Globe 10
Engaging Biblical Texts on Film 15
Textual Accuracy and Fidelity Claims 19
Basic Tips for Screening Films from Different Contexts 24
Using this Book 26
Chapter 2: Genesis Films and Their Audiences: Cultural Difference and Cultural Contexts 30
Dornford- May’s South African Context and Musical Theater for the Twenty- First Century 34
The Planet, Income Disparity, and Cultural Diversity in Unogumbe – Noye’s Fludde 36
Musical Theater for the People in Unogumbe – Noye’s Fludde 39
Aronofsky’s American Context and American God 42
Creation Care in Noah 44
Special Effects in Noah 49
Race in Noah 54
Sissoko’s Malian Context and International Audiences 57
African Film Technique in La Genèse 58
Tribal Warfare in La Genèse 62
Stories from Genesis for the World in La Genèse 66
Discussion Questions 68
Chapter 3: Exodus Epics: Miracles and Modifications in an American Context 69
Miracles and Modifications in The Ten Commandments 75
Seeing/Not Seeing God’s Miracles in The Ten Commandments 75
Adapting the Biblical Text in The Ten Commandments 79
Miracles and Modifications in The Prince of Egypt 84
Seeing/Not Seeing God’s Miracles in The Prince of Egypt 86
Adapting the Biblical Text in The Prince of Egypt 88
Miracles and Modifications in Exodus: Gods and Kings 96
Seeing/Not Seeing God’s Miracles in Exodus: Gods and Kings 97
Adapting the Biblical Text in Exodus: Gods and Kings 101
Discussion Questions 106
Chapter 4: David Films and Cultural Stereotypes: Seeing Ancient Women and Men 108
Men and Women in David and Bathsheba 114
Seeing Men and Seeing Women in David and Bathsheba 116
Seeing Race in David and Bathsheba 122
Men and Women in King David 125
Seeing Men and Seeing Women in King David 125
Seeing Masculinity in King David 130
Men and Women in Rei Davi – O Filme 136
Seeing Men and Seeing Women in Rei Davi – O Filme 139
Seeing Femininity in Rei Davi – O Filme 143
Discussion Questions 148
Chapter 5: Jesus and Politics in Gospel Films: Cultural Politics and the Presentation of Jesus 149
Pasolini’s Political Jesus in Il Vangelo secondo Matteo 151
The Politics of Tradition in Il Vangelo secondo Matteo 152
The Politics of Divinity in Il Vangelo secondo Matteo 159
Bhimsingh’s Political Jesus in Karunamayudu 166
The Politics of Vision in Karunamayudu 170
The Politics of Compassion and Suffering in Karunamayudu 176
Arcand’s Political Jesus in Jésus de Montréal 179
The Politics of Theater in Jésus de Montréal 180
The Politics of Religion in Jésus de Montréal 184
Discussion Questions 189
Chapter 6: Why Kill Jesus? The Politics of Crucifixion in Musicals and Comedy 191
A Countercultural Jesus in Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew 196
The Joyful Teacher of Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew 197
Rome and the Jews in Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew 199
An Historical Jesus in Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew? 203
A Failed Revolutionary Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar 205
The Man of Sorrows in Jesus Christ Superstar 206
Rome and the Jews in Jesus Christ Superstar 207
An Historical Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar? 212
A Comic Mistake in Monty Python’s Life of Brian 215
The Hapless “Jesus” of Monty Python’s Life of Brian 215
Rome and the Jews in Monty Python’s Life of Brian 216
An Historical Jesus in Monty Python’s Life of Brian? 221
Discussion Questions 222
Chapter 7: Portraying the Past in Twenty- First Century Jesus Films: Truth, Trust, and Transformation 223
Gibson’s Salvific Vision in The Passion of the Christ 226
Gibson’s Suffering Jesus in The Passion of the Christ 227
Seeing the Suffering Jesus in The Passion of the Christ 233
Truth, Power, and Media in Dornford- May’s Son of Man 237
Truth and Power in “High Trust” Media in Son of Man 239
Truth and Power in “Low Trust” Media in Son of Man 243
Hybrid Presentations in Rau’s Das neue Evangelium 251
Das neue Evangelium as a Contemporary Jesus Film 253
Das neue Evangelium as a Documentary Promoting Political Change 256
Discussion Questions 262
Bibliography 264
Filmography 288
Glossary and Index 293
