Steineded How sad is this?

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

llawrance1972 This has to be one of my favourite versions of the Nativity story. It is a careful, poignant, and believable filming of the tale. The characters are written as people who are responding to an incredible vision, told by those who would normally be dismissed. Each of the roles is acted with sincerity and a depth of care, the wise men, a shepherd, the families of Mary and Joseph are all there as are Herod and his officers. Their voices build up the story, working it into a picture of God intervening in the world, remaking it. Mary and Joseph are portrayed convincingly and with a pathos I found incredibly moving. These are young people, in love and looking forward to their future before Mary is chosen to bring God to birth. Her acceptance of this, and Joseph's gradual coming to terms with her child is beautifully shown. Joseph is hurt and bewildered. Mary confused but willing to trust. Their slow coming back together makes this retelling a lovely exploration of what it is to be human. I was really glad that I have seen the series and recommend it to anyone who is curious about what it might have been like to witness and be part of this story.

Christmas-Reviewer I have seen 2 versions of this story and this is the better one. We all know the story of the birth of Jesus which is a burden on filmmakers. Because we know the story they still have to make an entertaining film and not bore the audience. They also have to be accurate. With all these built in expectation they were able to deliver a film that should please most people.Even if don't believe the story of the birth of Jesus this is still a film you will enjoy. It moves quickly and it also gives you a since of what life was like for people 2000 years ago. The casting is excellent. Nobody is miscast. Everyone behaves how you expect them to behave in the situations that they are in. I think most people should watch this film. If gives you a since that you "Must Have Faith". Without "Faith" is like having "No Air" Well Done! I will watch this again.

malmborgimplano-92-599820 I would classify this as a young adult version of the nativity story, focusing on the journey of Mary and Joseph from a happy, innocent young engaged couple, through the confusion and misery of Mary's weird unplanned pregnancy, to their stunned discovery that they are in fact the parents of a divine child. It's stylish and smart, with an ever so slightly clever contemporary feel and a well-made Hollywood-style high stakes five-act script. Being a nonbeliever who watched it strictly for Capaldi, I experienced it as a sort of really good "Doctor Who" Christmas episode with Capaldi's Doctor undercover in Bethlehem as Balthazar of the Babylonian School of Astronomy. I have to marvel at the dignity with which he mounts a kneeling camel, maintaining his balance as it rises up underneath him, and then shouts, "To Jerusalem!"

Leofwine_draca I was a bit nervous about watching this beforehand, worried that it would bring make memories of excruciating school plays and the like. I needn't have worried.This turns out to be a piece of heartwarming television. The scriptwriter makes pains to allow the viewer to enter this historical world by bringing the characters to life with both realism and warmth. The attention to detail is fine, and the Moroccan backdrops are more than up to the job.Aside from some dodgy CGI graphics of planetary shifts (left over from the latest DR WHO, perhaps) the BBC have done themselves proud here, with the ending particularly moving/everything you could have hoped to see. It's not often I get to commend the BBC for both sincerity and sensitivity, but both are in abundance here.