I loved how authentic and real this whole production was. I watched in awe, and instantly became one with each of the characters, as if I was experiencing each perspective of the story as it developed. I picked up on subtle shifts in emphasis, as the nativity film depicts more of the culture in Nazareth from two millennia ago. I cried, then sobbed in surprise when I witnessed the unexpected reality of the wise men viewing a toddler Jesus instead of the previous infantile depiction. I enjoyed this film with all my heart.
7 Reviews
Great job!
wmfeistl27 November 2019
Accurate yet moving
jamieahlstrom5 December 2019
This depiction of the nativity follows the words from the Bible stories exactly, and yet there is so much emotion. It's easy to connect with multiple characters and bring this moving story into your heart and mind. Despite it being a familiar tale, you'll be watching closely.
in profound sense, beautiful
Kirpianuscus16 December 2023
Only can write - admirable . Against confession difference ( I am Greek Orthodox ), against prejudices, against some problems of accuracy - The Mother of God is too old, the Right Joseph - too young , the tradition of wise men around manger is changed ( not exactly in bad way ). Significant, from the first scenes you feel it as a great, carefull crafted short film, offering , in precise - simple - touching manner, the story who you know and helping you to feel it. And few scenes are wise use of familiar great masterpices of art.
Good acting, inspired details, great dimensions of story.
And powerful last scene.
So, one of profound useful short films for Christmas season and for the time when you feel the need to rediscover the beauty , special beauty, of your faith.
So, Christian message in great , gentle, inspired manner , moment by moment.
Good acting, inspired details, great dimensions of story.
And powerful last scene.
So, one of profound useful short films for Christmas season and for the time when you feel the need to rediscover the beauty , special beauty, of your faith.
So, Christian message in great , gentle, inspired manner , moment by moment.
Short but accurate
asjkdgngwea28 December 2022
This is the most historically accurate depiction of Jesus's birth in existence. Things I noticed that this one gets right that most depictions get wrong: the language appears to be Aramaic, the manger is made of stone, there are short haircuts for men, the stable is a part of the house, the "inn" is a dwelling of apparently extended relations, the wise men arrive later, when Jesus is a child rather than when he is a baby still in the manger.
The two things I noticed that are probably inaccurate: Mary should have been about 14 years old, and the swaddling in baby Jesus should have been around the arms and legs,
The two things I noticed that are probably inaccurate: Mary should have been about 14 years old, and the swaddling in baby Jesus should have been around the arms and legs,
Accuracy: excellent; Emotion: perfect
essay-witty21 December 2023
This 17-minute short (available on YouTube) retelling of the Nativity goes for full-on accuracy, following the Gospel accounts rather than more modern interpretations. This includes the characters speaking in Aramaic, the language at the time, including Mary singing in Aramaic a lullaby based on a psalm. There are no translated subtitles because none are needed. The film is about the emotion conveyed by characters and felt by the audience. We don't need to understand the exact words because we always feel and therefore comprehend what is being portrayed. The anxiety and worry for a loved one, the significance of the Child, the gratitude, wonder, and humility as shown by the characters by their expressions, tenderness, and sense of awe. We feel as they feel, we feel more a sense of this is what it must of been like and this, was an amazing event that deserves to be reminisced, honored, and celebrated.
Did not really draw me in
Horst_In_Translation2 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"The Christ Child: A Nativity Story" is an American 18-minute live action short film from 2019, actually this was released just 1.5 months ago and managed no less than 1.5 million views on Youtube. Not too shabby. The writer and director here is John Foss and religion (and Christmas) seem to be exactly his cup of tea when it comes to filmmaking. He has even acted in a movie before already where he played Jesus himself. So no new grounds for him here. It is tough for me to say why this film did so little for me though. It felt as if the material was just there for 10 minutes max I'd say. So it felt a bit boring. I don't really think it has to do with me being an agnostic because there are many religion-themed movies I enjoyed a lot more than this one here. Tough to say. Visually it looked fine no denying. I still would say that the woman cast as Mary was maybe not the way I imagined the real Mary. With Joseph they did a better choice. With Jesus (as a child, not toddler), I also did not like the casting too much. In general the final scene which plays years after what we see before could have been left out completely for all I care. It also does not fit in story-wise really if we take a look at the title. Still I will admit, the adult actor who comes to praise young Jesus is doing a good job as he does not have too much to work with really, but hreat acting with his eyes and he somehow makes this scene work, but still it felt not really necessary. So yeah I guess you must be really into thne Bible in order to like this little movie we have here. It has its strengths and decent moments no denying and is definitely nowhere near failure territory, but for me it wasn't interesting enough, so I have to give it a thumbs-down. Watch something else instead.
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