Risen (Risen)
Leadership: Kevin Reynolds
Script: Kevin Reynolds
USA, 2016
This film, which the leading actors Joseph Fiennes and Maria Botto presented in mid-February at the Vatican Film Library, will be released in Spain on March 23, in the middle of Holy Week. It is certainly a very opportune moment, because the film, written and directed by the American Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld y Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves), narrates in a novelized form the events following the death and resurrection of Christ; specifically, the enormous difficulties that, logically, the centurion Clavius, played by Fiennes, faces to fulfill the impossible assignment he has received from his superiors: to find out where the missing body of Jesus is and to recover it.
The plot fundamentally serves the clear purpose of the screenplay, which is none other than to tell the story of Christ's resurrection. But the script has the "apologetic" virtuality of telling that fundamental Christian truth from the eyes of a non-believer, Clavius, who progressively verifies how the non-appearance of Christ's body, despite his intense search, has no more reasonable explanation than the unanimous testimony of the witnesses of the resurrection.
Clavius undertakes his task convinced that he will succeed, but then his doubts increase, to the point of completely rethinking not only the order he has received, but also his deepest convictions. Although as a military man he feels inclined to obey the command of his superiors, without questioning it, later, on the occasion of his inquiries, the film will show the personal transformation experienced by the main character, when he has no choice but to face the evidence of the resurrection, and consequently the person of Christ and his doctrine of salvation. Clavius will be challenged to a profound change of convictions. The culminating moment of this personal transformation occurs in the film when the Roman officer who has put Jesus to death meets the resurrected Jesus himself four days after his death.
The character of Mary Magdalene, played by Argentine actress Maria Botto, is also interesting for the certainty of the testimony she offers about the resurrection of Jesus and the sense of peace she conveys.
The film, which was partly shot in Almería, uses practically no special effects, except for a few moments.
