The Body is a film beginning with an Israeli archaeologist named Sharon Golban (played by Olivia Williams) who discovers a hidden tomb in Jerusalem with bones that could possibly be those of Jesus Christ. The Vatican sends Father Matt Gutierrez (played by Antonio Banderas) with the sole purpose of proving that the bones do not belong to Christ. I first watched The Body a few years ago for a biblical traditions class, and didn't understand the concepts very well. I simply watched the movie with eyes for entertainment rather than learning, and in terms of religion, I couldn't fully grasp the consequences of what would happen if a person found the bones of Jesus Christ. However, after taking another religion of world religions, I was able to understand the second time when I watched The Body, why so many various groups were affected by this one possible discovery. This movie dives deep into the issue of issue of faith, especially the faith of Father Matt Gutierrez, who struggles between this duty to the Vatican and his duty to God and his beliefs. Watching this film, I also learned a great deal more about Christianity, as it focused a great deal on the details of Christ's death, as the gospels had stated. What I loved the most about the film was that it didn't just focus on the effects of the discovery on only Christians, but also brought in the viewpoints and backgrounds of Judaism and Islam; also not focusing only on the effect religiously, but also politically and scientifically, explaining various points about archaeology and evidence. In The Body, the effects of the discovery of bones that were possibly those of Christ's were not only explored in groups, but with individuals themselves. For Father Matt Gutierrez, he was forced to question whether he consistently denied the possibility of the bones being Christ's, due to the Vatican stressing the need to stand by that belief or if it was due to his own personal beliefs and faith. The film also connects to the present ongoing battle between Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the fight for control over the Holy Land. One of the main problems that I had about the film was that although throughout the film, new questions constantly began to rise, by the end of the film, most of those questions had gone unanswered, leaving me with many new unanswered questions. When the film ends, I am still greatly questioning the background and origins behind the bones found by the archaeologist. Overall however, The Body was a film that was both educational and entertaining to watch. Not only did it present an interesting and capturing story plot, but I learned a great deal more about several religions, like Judaism, Islam, and especially Christianity, the many conflicts that arise from a possible discovery of the bones of Christ, and finally the internal struggles that individuals are presented with regarding their faith and what they believe.
Review of The Body
