The Nativity: Episode 4 (2010)

 

Most of what we traditionally think of as “the Christmas story” occurs in this episode.  Delivery in a stable, swaddling clothes, no-crib-for-a-bed, and all that.  The star is brilliant, the shepherds are visited by an angel, and the three oddest baby gifts in history are given.

 

A bit more revision to the classic story:  “no room at the inn,” in this version is more conditional than practical.  In the search-for-lodgings montage, a number of innkeepers make it clear that they have room, just not for the likes of Mary.  Though Joseph refers to her as his wife, scandalous whispers have followed them, and word quickly gets around that Mary isn’t a woman to open one’s doors to.

 

Not too much to say about Balthazar and his cohorts here.  They and the shepherds all do a nice job of worshipping a baby and making it look genuine.  (I don’t know that I’d ever thought before about what a strange image that makes, but they do it ably and without self-consciousness.) 

 

As an aside, I’m not terribly impressed with how Gabriel is done in this miniseries.  While the no-wings thing isn’t a deal-breaker for me, I would’ve liked to see something more demonstratively angelic.  I don’t really understand how people in his presence immediately know that he’s an angel.  There’s dialogue about how people feel when he touches them, but touch isn’t a very cinematic sense, and it doesn’t translate all that well.

 

Round-up for The Nativity:

 

Accent Watch

 

RP.  A few hints of Scottish intrusion, but not many and not by much.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – If you like adaptations of the Christmas story, this is a good one.  The acting is excellent, and the characterization is interesting and engaging.  It tells the story in its own way, but without going too far off the rails.  (I still cringe to think of Mary Mother of Jesus, wherein Mary is the one to come up with the parables and tells them to young Jesus as bedtime stories!)

 

PC-wise – Maybe.  It’s not a hugely demanding role, but PC does well with it.  The conversation with Melchior in episode 2 is especially good.

 

Warnings

 

Nothing further.