this film really disappointed me . the acting be atrocious . unbelievable . and it about actor . the story be incredibly obvious represent a group of independent actor stage a passion play and and in turn and they start to live out the life of the character they play . i have be watch a lot of movie lately and thanks to netflix and and this be the first one i haven not watch all the way through in a long time . i felt i do not need to see the end while we all know the end of this story . for some and it seem and this modernization of the gospel be either sacrilegious or enlighten . i can not speak to any of this a i wasn not raise in the christian church . that be say and i be raise in the u and i live in an increasingly christian culture . i be curious enough about jesus and about the modernization of the religion and for good or bad . i haven not see mel gibson version and but i be guess that those who like that one will like this and except for the most conservative . i just wish this be a good film . lot of these review praise arcand direction and especially the cinematography . i like neither . the film itself be rather prudish and preachy . i do not believe the character personae and i be never involve with their on screen life . the play within the play be very much date and would not and i think and carry it own weight in a real time production . but that beside the point . what i really need for this to work would have be strong development of the character and the plot to support the philosophical and theological question the film would like to be about . and the musical choice be obvious and unoriginal . there be two example of this that come easily to mind . firstly and there be a reenactment of the parable of jesus drive the money lender from the temple represent the lead actor and who have fall for the woman who will play magdalene and who be also a model and dancer and becomes enrage that she must debase herself by audition for a commercial ( with a wicked producer and plenty of pant men in the audience ) with her pant off . he trash the place and chase them all out . i guess this be the level that the film wish to reach . the romance between these two be entirely arbitrary and not at all emotionally realize and the scene be play out like a high school rendering of death of a salesman and i. e. and not well . please stop hit me over the head with this high hand significance . the other be the relationship between the other female lead and the priest who have ask them to do the play and who and eventually and turn against them and betray them to the nowadays corrupt church . why . why do she sleep with this guy . it bring him so much pleasure and me so little pain . ah and the saintly whore and the lovable old coot . it seem to be just enough for arcand to signify but not worth the trouble to enrich and enliven these character . they be go through the motion and i be reach for the eject button . feel free to write me off a bored and jade or just not interested . feel free to watch this movie and see the passion and in all it beauty and sadness and inspiration and deliver a an amateurish and gimmicky charade . feel free to have all your preconceive idea affirm and see any shred of artistic integrity forsake for monotonous drivel . but do not say i do not warn you .