THE BODY

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: one f-word, thematic elements

Rated:

A sliver of pewter light gleams through the darkness, breaking into the stale emptiness of the tomb. A shadow passes through, a slender figure moving with the stealth and security of a feline. Rocks are chipped away, excavations made, and a secret room revealed behind the tomb's far wall. What is found inside will send the Christian church reeling into disbelief, for the archeologist Sharon Golban (Olivia Williams) believes it to be the body of Jesus Christ. The hands and feet are pierced -- a crucified form in a wealthy man's grave.

The knowledge of Father Lavelle (Derek Jacobi), a professor of archeology, is consulted and the man's witnessing of the body has a profound effect upon him, nearly shattering his own faith in the risen Christ. In desperation the Vatican in Rome is consulted and they send as an emissary young Father Matt Gutierrez (Antonio Banderas), who was a low-profile investigator during the war. His job is to prove that the bones of the crucified figure are not those of the risen savior. In any way and means he can -- stretching all boundaries of insight and experience as he battles scientific evidence on a quest to satisfy his own soul.

Matt and Sharon are instantly at odds, torn apart by the differences in opinion -- Sharon as a scientist, Matt as a man of faith. In addition, the discovery has become privately known to one of the most influential and dangerous leaders of the Palestinian terrorist organization who now have a profound fascination with the case. Matt's one alley in this dangerous game of cat and mouse is Moshe Cohen, the political leader of the Israelites who would use the body to his own advantage to protect Israel from becoming a Palestinian state. 'God,' Matt informs him dourly, 'has no place in politics.' But the evidence is insurmountable. A crucified figure in a wealthy man's tomb, when the Romans only crucified those of the lowest order. Indentations in the skull, so slight that they are almost unnoticeable... almost as if the figure had been pierced with a crown of thorns.

A mark upon the man's side... perhaps a spear that scraped his flesh. The legs are intact. 'Not a bone shall be broken in his body.' It is an astounding and earth-shattering discovery that could very well mean the end of Christianity. But still Matt struggles, revealing bits and pieces of himself and his past as he takes this painful journey toward truth. Sharon, too, begins to realize the magnitude of what she has unleashed as the political strains between Palestine and Israel begin to tighten, and violence is once more rampant on the streets of Jerusalem in a Holy War. Their only hope may lie in the truth... the missing link: a stolen lamp from the tomb and the markings on the burial jar. But has the damage been done, or can Matt and Sharon restore light to the darkness?

In all accounts, The Body is an intense mind-boggling thriller carried well off by a cast of little-known supporting actors. Antonio Banderas gives us a vivid impression of the struggle inside Father Gutierrez as he challenges his own faith and ultimately makes a choice that will affect all those around him. The film gives forth a true challenge to all viewers -- what do you believe? And would you stand by it even when scientific evidence tested your resistance? The film, and essentially the novel it's based on, play off an age-old suspicion that has been used many times... but never with quite this amount of passion. Although not (to my knowledge) written by a Christian author, The Body is surprisingly respectful of the Christian faith. Most, if not all, references made to Jesus and His resurrection are made in reverent respect and the ending takes care not to insult or degrade either side while leaning strongly in the way of truth. It's a narrow line on which the film walks, questioning itself, challenging itself, revealing evil in the most unexpected places. And although tried with some problematic elements, it's difficult at times to remind oneself that this is not a Christian production.

The film's most unfortunate two occurrences are brief strong language (a single use of the f-word by Sharon) and the suicide of a religious man confused by his faith. I anticipated as much (and no doubt many viewers will identify him early on) but it sends a mixed message toward the path that he chose in the end and the weakness of his emotional strength. Otherwise, the content level is low -- there's probably half a dozen low-key profanities all together and some violence that is not overly graphic or memorable. Whether or not one is challenged by the film, the viewer gets a good dose of both objectives. The only complaint I have with it is the fact that at times it's hard to follow, particularly if one isn't well-grounded in scripture and the struggle for power between Israel and Palestine. The ending, while satisfactory, isn't well-explained and one almost has to watch it twice to grasp the full impact. If viewers are uncomfortable with the idea of recovering the body of Jesus, or intellectually shocked by the moments of horror and disbelief that the church goes through, The Body is not worth a turn on your player. But for those up for a challenge, it may very well be a good option for a Friday night.