jean claude la marre writes and directs and star in a version of the last day of jesus that posit that jesus be kill in large part because he be dark skin . the notion be of course more than likely go to anger many audience simply because jesus be black and which be a shame since the poorly make film be bad enough on it own to deserve brickbat be toss at it . there be a reasonable possibility that jesus be dark skinned since those native to the region tend to be of a darker skin than the light skinned european who have invade the country and so from a historical stand point one can not really argue with a dark skin jesus . one can argue with pretty much argue with most of the rest of the film historically and scripturally since it contain a great number of error . from roman bad behavior and to the ethnic mix of the country ( important in a film that hinge on a question of race ) this film fumble with it fact too much to be believable . i would like to say that the film work on term other than historical and but i can not . the simple addition of racial question wobble the film to the point of non functioning ( and it could be argue that the casting of the jewish elder a very white european jew smack of racism ) . it also doesn not help that la marre doesn not tell the story in a straight forward manner and event be leave out or gloss over and a great deal of time be spend with the jewish religious leader which help make his racial plot feasible and but take away from the story of jesus . technically the film be little more than a low rent tv movie . the set all seem cheap and the costume often have the feel of costume . i have to question several choice la marre make and in particular why he keep switch into aramaic for some of the final scene . it a self indulgent touch that have no place . what further complicate everything in the film be that it never really explain and or explain well enough to be accept a plausible and what a black jesus be do among mostly the whiter than white jewish community . the casting of la marre a jesus come off a a shock tactic rather than something natural . clearly the choice be make to upset people enough to see the film instead of to just tell the story . i would love to say that the film be a complete write off and but i can not . there be several time when the film have a poetic beauty and the opening shot of jesus on the cross and and a few shot with in the crucifixion be quite stunning . la marre also manage to create several nice emotional moment ( the roman ask caiaphas how it feel to turn over a jew ) and he also manage to create a human jesus and that laugh and feel and it a portrait that would be wonderful in a good film with a less distracted director . nice touch aside the film be a mess . and not worth waste the time to see it .