The young Jesus confronts the Roman soldier, Sean Bean as the centurion Servius
THE YOUNG MESSIAH
By Marlene Ardoin
If you enjoyed the Harry Potter films, especially the first one, you will love “The Young Messiah.”
It tells us about the young Jesus, who gradually discovers his hidden powers. He is a compassionate child, who empathizes so strongly with others that he wills good in their lives.
Adam Greaves-Neal plays the seven-year-old Jesus. His character overlooks the flaws in those he is helping, for example, the boy who is bullying him, the woman who wants to sell her bird, the rabbi, who is blind, and the bird, who is dead.
There is evil in his world, but he is somehow protected by his own goodness.
One character seems to personify the devil. Rory Keenan plays this character like a fallen angel, who is constantly trying to trip up this young, innocent boy.
The climax of this film comes when the young Jesus is about to be killed by the soldiers sent by Herod’s son, Antipas (Jonathan Bailey). I don’t want to give away how Jesus handles this dilemma.
The era is well captured and real. I came away from this film with a sense of what it must have been like living in that environment.
Sara Lazzaro plays his mother, Mary. She does a great job of describing her virgin pregnancy, and how her betrothed, Joseph (Vincent Walsh), comes to accept it all.
The most surprising part of “The Young Messiah,” is the fact that the script comes from an Anne Rice novel, “Christ the Lord Out of Egypt.”
Anne Rice’s personal spiritual journey has been circuitous. Raised a Catholic, she became an atheist in university. Her vampire novels propelled her to fame. Then, in 2002, Rice dedicated her life to writing for God. I would really like to read a novel about her own spiritual journey.
But, I think you will find that “The Young Messiah” is very engaging and professionally presented.