MovieChat Forums > The Nativity (2010) Discussion > Least Accurate Period Film of All Time?

Least Accurate Period Film of All Time?

posted 13 years ago by ArchStanton1862
3 replies | jump to latest

This series has the least accurate production design that I have ever seen. They don't seem able to disguise that they're using modern buildings. I don't think they even try. The windows are still there, the walls are flat, they have tables and modern utensils, etc. And it's not an artistic choice to set everything in the modern world either because all the costumes attempt to match the period. Either these guys did the laziest research job ever or they're suffering from two set designers with conflicting instructions. I know that they probably had a very low budget, but plenty of Biblical films have done better on a far lower budget. These guys would have been better off using props from a Nativity Pageant.

FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC

[–] starzandi 13 years ago

Of course they didn't try and they didn't even pretend to try.

They wanted it to look beautiful and make it accessible for an audience.

They told it in the tradition of centuries of nativity plays adapted for different cultures and used some traditional and familiar, but not biblical elements (the names of the magi being Caspar/ Melchior/ Balthasar?, the names of Marys parents being Joachim and Anna?)

They casted British, Irish and Canadian actors--- nobody did even remotely look like someone from that time and place...And Morocco isn't even the same continent...

[–] starzandi 13 years ago

Did I say that I loved it??

[–] ArchStanton1862 13 years ago

I disagree with that. There's nothing wrong with setting a Biblical story in a modern setting. Kings did it fairly well, even if the show was a failure financially. And of course there are always modern versions of Shakespearean plays which add something to it. The problem isn't that they modernized it, it's that they tried to make it look authentic and failed. The robes and costumes they wear are attempts at period clothing and the outside of the houses are chosen to look like ancient Judean ones. It's just that they put only minimal effort into making it look authentic. If they had just picked an ancient or a modern setting and committed to it then I'd have respected their choice, but they just seemed lazy.

FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC