Is Netflix’s ‘Mary’ Biblically Accurate?

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As a film critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the recent Netflix release “Mary” left me feeling more like I was watching a poorly-written Hallmark movie than a portrayal of one of Christianity’s most sacred stories.

When Netflix’s latest movie titled “Mary” premiered, it received unfavorable feedback from both audiences and critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has garnered a disappointing 27% rating among critics and a slightly better 43% score from viewers. The inconsistent tone was a point of criticism for many spectators, but the inaccuracies were a more significant issue for most.

In this movie, over 40 individuals were acknowledged as producers, even megachurch pastor Joel Osteen among them. Yet, one might find it surprising that errors could have been overlooked. Director D.J. Caruso, who is Catholic, defended the choice to cast Israeli actors in the film amid controversy by stating he aimed for authenticity when speaking with Entertainment Weekly. However, the end result suggests that the creators of Mary may not have been as committed to making the film truly authentic as they claimed.

The Problem with Adapting Mary’s Story

Mary accurately portrays several aspects of Jesus’ birth as detailed in the Bible. The movie depicts many biblically-told events, including the angel informing Mary and Joseph about her pregnancy, and Herod being the ruling monarch at Jesus’ birth. However, creating a film based on Mary’s life is challenging due to limited information provided in the Bible about her life beyond the birth of Jesus. The narrative of Mary and Jesus’ birth is found only in the Biblical books of Matthew and Luke, spanning just a few chapters in each.

In contrast to other productions about Jesus’ birth such as The Chosen, this film distinguishes Mary by exploring lesser-known aspects of her life. Consequently, it leaves viewers questioning whether these additional stories are factual or not. The earliest biblical encounter with Mary occurs in the book of Luke when Gabriel, an angel, announces to her that she will give birth to a son. Interestingly, the movie delays this significant scene by approximately 45 minutes before it unfolds.

In this movie, an additional 45 minutes depict the background of Mary, focusing on her upbringing. The film portrays Mary’s parents, who are not mentioned in the Bible, and presents Mary’s birth as a divine intervention, with Gabriel appearing to announce Mary’s pregnancy to her parents. While the Bible does not delve into these specific details, it raises the question of why such an event, supposedly overseen by Gabriel, was not recorded if it truly occurred.

Mary Gets the Basics Right, But Takes Liberties on Details

In the film, it’s depicted that I, as Mary, am visited by Gabriel to announce my upcoming birth of Jesus. Subsequently, I spend time with my cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant. Later, Jesus and I are born in a stable in Bethlehem, and the arrival of the wise men causes King Herod to fear the prophesied Messiah. While these events are integral parts of the Bible, it’s essential to remember that the movie may not portray them with complete accuracy.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I find myself slightly disappointed with how Mary handles certain scenes. While Luke’s gospel includes a detailed account of Jesus’ presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem, Mary seems to rush through this narrative, dedicating merely two minutes to its screen adaptation.

Mary occasionally bends certain truths when narrating Bible stories. For instance, in one such instance, she portrays the crowd in Bethlehem as being there due to the impending birth of the Messiah, a notion not supported by the Bible. According to Scripture, it was actually Caesar Augustus’ census that caused the mass gathering in Bethlehem, since Joseph and his family were required to return to their ancestral town.

Mary’s Inaccuracies Go Hand-in-Hand with Tonal Issues

In the film “Mary,” many scenes not based on the Bible are included for dramatic impact. For example, when Herod issues a decree in the movie that all newborn boys should be killed, Mary and Joseph manage an escape with Jesus, but they narrowly avoid capture by Herod’s guards. However, this appears to be a creative alteration, as the Bible suggests that Mary and Joseph were warned to leave before Herod made his decree.

As a movie enthusiast, I found it intriguing when D.J. Caruso was announced as the director for “Mary.” While he did direct a Christian romance film titled “Redeeming Love” previously, most of his work has been in the horror and thriller genres, such as “Disturbia” from 2007 and “XXX: Return of Xander Cage” featuring Vin Diesel. His directorial style, which is usually intense and action-packed, contrasts sharply with the reverent tone typically associated with religious stories, and unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to gel well in this case.

In another words, contrary to the traditional image of an angel, Gabriel doesn’t seem like one at all and appears quite frequently according to various interpretations. The Bible does not provide detailed visuals or descriptions of Gabriel, but Caruso’s portrayal seems excessively imaginative. Frequently, Gabriel is depicted near Mary, wearing a blue robe with a hood. This might give off an unsettling vibe, and it appears to contradict the Biblical account as Mary was not disturbed when Gabriel appeared to her in Luke if she had previously encountered the angel.

While Mary may currently enjoy popularity, her imperfections are hard to overlook. It’s Jesus who Christians commemorate during Christmas, but it appears that Mary doesn’t convey the story effectively enough to become a fresh Christmas tale for the ages. You can stream Mary on Netflix.

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2024-12-14 05:01