“You may think you know my story,” Mary tells us. “Trust me, you don’t ...”
‘Mary’ is a re-imagined period drama that explores the character and the circumstances of being the ‘chosen one’ to give birth to the promised king as per the prophecy of ‘Isaiah’. The film portrays Mary of Judea, as a young woman coming into her power and accepting her unique destiny, albeit with occasional fears and confusion … balancing her humanity with her divinely ordained role.
Joachim and his wife, Anna, have their prayers answered when a daughter is born to them in exchange of the promise to dedicate her to the service of the lord. Young Mary is sent to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. While Mary accepts a mission, not of her own choosing, director D.J. Caruso shows her as a heroic woman, who displays remarkable strength and courage making her life story a survival narrative in many ways. Chosen to bring the Messiah into the world, Mary finds enemies in Judea; she is shunned by the community for carrying what they believe to be an illegitimate child. Mary fights back and persists even in the face of the temptation of Lucifer. Later, Lucifer provokes a mob to stone Mary to death but Joseph saves her. When King Herod orders the “King of the Jews” to be killed, Mary and Joseph are forced to escape to save the newborn Jesus. The film ends as they return to the Temple of Jerusalem with Jesus. The priest proclaims a new prophecy … the blessed child is destined to bring about the rise and fall of many.
‘Mary’ isn’t a typical Christmas movie: it dramatizes the miraculous birth of Jesus and also the miraculous birth of His mother – Mary, through events that may or may not align with the Scriptures.
