Risen
[Warning: contains some spoilers...although most of this story can be found in the Bible, so I consider it common knowledge.]
Risen is the story* of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection as told by the (fictional) Roman Tribune, Clavius. While none of the Roman officials particularly care about Jesus, they have him crucified upon request from the Jewish leaders and people. Pilate basically explains that he's doing it to satisfy the Jews to keep them quiet and complacent. Clavius watches Jesus die on the cross, and all the Roman soldiers in attendance are shaken by the trembling of the earth as Christ dies (no pun intended, but happy coincidence). Clavius oversees the placement of Jesus's body in a tomb and, knowing the prophecies of the Old Testament, the Romans seal a great stone across the front of the tomb and set two guards to watch and make sure that no one will come and take the body away to perpetuate the "myth" of his resurrection.
Soon word reaches Pilate and Clavius that the body is gone, and Clavius is paired with young Lucius to investigate the supposed theft of the body of Christ. Looking at the physical evidence (broken ropes and seals, the stone being moved, the shroud still in the tomb) and chasing witnesses (followers, disciples, and anyone who is overheard proclaiming the resurrection) the men find more questions than answers. If the body was taken, then who took it and where did they put it? They dig up all recent graves in the hope of finding the body, or at least one that can pass as Christ's. How did the guards not see the people who came and took the body? The men hide, and then lie, before finally admitting that they were drunk and asleep, and that they feared punishment if they were to admit that they believed they saw the tomb blown open from the inside and a bright light as Christ emerged. Why do so many people keep talking about the resurrection in the streets, even if they haven't seen Jesus face-to-face? They all admit that they truly believe that he has risen, they have heard from friends that he is back, and the disciples have seen him.
When Clavius hears the joyful account of the disciple Bartholomew, after all of the other witness accounts, he begins to understand the hope that the people have and he starts to question his own pagan faith. As the hunt for Jesus escalates, the soldiers locate the disciples gathered in a house and hope to catch them with the body, Clavius, arriving first, sees the man - whom he had seen crucified only days before - now seated among his followers. He tells Lucius and the soldiers to fall back, saying that he found nothing, but he sits in the room with the disciples after watching Christ disappear. He listens and asks questions, and then travels with the twelve men to meet with Jesus at Galilee. When Lucius finds them, Clavius begs for their lives. Wen they once again encounter Christ, he witnesses the miracles and ascension, and then he walks away from his old life, telling others about what he saw.
I love that this movie is structured as an investigation, based on real events, so that those who may not know all of the evidence can explore it themselves as they watch Clavius go through it. I don't know how I feel about the fact that Clavius was with the disciples in the end since, as far as we know, there never was a Roman soldier who travelled with them in those final days. However, it was necessary for the narrative and the film to present some hard evidence for Clavius to hold on to and to show viewers how the story ends.
*I should make it clear that in a context such as this, I use the word "story" not only to mean narrative, but also historical account. The English language is difficult because it uses the word "story" primarily to indicate a fictional account, however "history" and "story" are two very closely connected words. Additionally, in French "histoire" indicates both real and imaginary accounts.
Risen is the story* of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection as told by the (fictional) Roman Tribune, Clavius. While none of the Roman officials particularly care about Jesus, they have him crucified upon request from the Jewish leaders and people. Pilate basically explains that he's doing it to satisfy the Jews to keep them quiet and complacent. Clavius watches Jesus die on the cross, and all the Roman soldiers in attendance are shaken by the trembling of the earth as Christ dies (no pun intended, but happy coincidence). Clavius oversees the placement of Jesus's body in a tomb and, knowing the prophecies of the Old Testament, the Romans seal a great stone across the front of the tomb and set two guards to watch and make sure that no one will come and take the body away to perpetuate the "myth" of his resurrection.
Soon word reaches Pilate and Clavius that the body is gone, and Clavius is paired with young Lucius to investigate the supposed theft of the body of Christ. Looking at the physical evidence (broken ropes and seals, the stone being moved, the shroud still in the tomb) and chasing witnesses (followers, disciples, and anyone who is overheard proclaiming the resurrection) the men find more questions than answers. If the body was taken, then who took it and where did they put it? They dig up all recent graves in the hope of finding the body, or at least one that can pass as Christ's. How did the guards not see the people who came and took the body? The men hide, and then lie, before finally admitting that they were drunk and asleep, and that they feared punishment if they were to admit that they believed they saw the tomb blown open from the inside and a bright light as Christ emerged. Why do so many people keep talking about the resurrection in the streets, even if they haven't seen Jesus face-to-face? They all admit that they truly believe that he has risen, they have heard from friends that he is back, and the disciples have seen him.
When Clavius hears the joyful account of the disciple Bartholomew, after all of the other witness accounts, he begins to understand the hope that the people have and he starts to question his own pagan faith. As the hunt for Jesus escalates, the soldiers locate the disciples gathered in a house and hope to catch them with the body, Clavius, arriving first, sees the man - whom he had seen crucified only days before - now seated among his followers. He tells Lucius and the soldiers to fall back, saying that he found nothing, but he sits in the room with the disciples after watching Christ disappear. He listens and asks questions, and then travels with the twelve men to meet with Jesus at Galilee. When Lucius finds them, Clavius begs for their lives. Wen they once again encounter Christ, he witnesses the miracles and ascension, and then he walks away from his old life, telling others about what he saw.
I love that this movie is structured as an investigation, based on real events, so that those who may not know all of the evidence can explore it themselves as they watch Clavius go through it. I don't know how I feel about the fact that Clavius was with the disciples in the end since, as far as we know, there never was a Roman soldier who travelled with them in those final days. However, it was necessary for the narrative and the film to present some hard evidence for Clavius to hold on to and to show viewers how the story ends.
*I should make it clear that in a context such as this, I use the word "story" not only to mean narrative, but also historical account. The English language is difficult because it uses the word "story" primarily to indicate a fictional account, however "history" and "story" are two very closely connected words. Additionally, in French "histoire" indicates both real and imaginary accounts.
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