The Nativity Story (PG, 2006)

THE NATIVITY STORY opens with King Herod (Ciaran Hinds) plotting to kill all the male babies in Bethlehem. In a flashback to the previous year, Zechariah (Stanley Townsend) is told by an angelic voice that his aging wife Elizabeth (Shohreh Aghdashloo) will bear a son. In Nazareth, Elizabeth's young peasant cousin, Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) -- still practically a child and living under the daily uncertainties of Roman occupation -- is informed by her parents, Anna and Joaquim (Hiam Abbass and Shaun Toub), that she is to marry Joseph (Oscar Isaac), a carpenter a few years her senior. Troubled, Mary retreats to a nearby grove, where the angel Gabriel (Alexander Siddig) reveals that she'll give birth to Jesus. Meanwhile, in Persia, the three Magi set out to follow the star westward as Joseph and Mary begin their own difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Once they finally arrive, Jesus is born -- complete with wise men, shepherds, no room at the inn, and just a hint of Hallmark Cardish-ness.

With very little source material to go on, it's true that most of this movie is speculation. But thoughtful direction by Catherine Hardwicke and a strong screenplay by Mike Rich give viewers a glimpse into Mary and Joseph's emotions. The movie takes us inside the characters' experience -- what they're thinking and how people react to their extraordinary situation.

Castle-Hughes portrays Mary with all the angst you might expect from someone in her situation. It's heart-wrenching to see Mary endure disparaging looks from neighbors, the threat of stoning, and the doubts of her own parents. Mary and Joseph feel woefully inadequate for such enormous responsibility, yet they quietly shoulder their responsibilities with hope and faith. This movie is a little slow in spots, and it's clearly religious. But its message of peace and goodwill will resonate with non-believers as well.

Studio: New Line
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Shohreh Aghdashloo
Genre: Drama
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: November 30, 2006
DVD release: March 20, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: some violent content