The Last Supper Parent Guide

Famed teacher and miracle worker, Jesus of Nazareth (Jamie Ward), has arrived in Jerusalem to rapturous crowds. However, his message of humility and compassion is less popular with local religious leaders, who fear that Jesus will threaten their ruling compact with Rome. Concerned that his followers will rebel, chief priest Caiaphas (James Faulkner) decides that Jesus must be arrested and killed. To succeed, Caiaphas will need to find a disciple willing to betray his Lord…

The subsequent days will be pivotal for the history of the world. The betrayal, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ are followed by his triumphant resurrection - events which have changed hearts and altered the currents of history for over 2000 years. Not surprisingly, the momentous consequences of this story place enormous pressure on any director who tries to put it on film.

It can be challenging to adapt the Bible for cinema. Sticking closely to the Biblical text can produce a disjointed film with clunky dialogue, particularly if an awkward translation is used as the base text. To create a more realistic feel and smooth the transitions between scenes, screenwriters often make changes to the scriptural text – which reduces the accuracy of the production. Somehow The Last Supper has the worst of both worlds: it has added to the scriptural text, creating fictional scenes and new characters, while in its worst moments, still feeling stilted and artificial.

I’m not entirely happy about some of the adaptations in the film, particularly Judas Iscariot’s encounters with a snake, shadowed figure, and demonic voice. None of that is scriptural and it makes Judas’s betrayal of Christ a dramatic story of overpowering evil instead of one of human sin and failure. I am also disappointed with the removal of Roman governor Pontius Pilate from the narrative.

I don’t want to be too harsh about a film that represents a good faith effort on the part of the writers and cast. The movie looks good and production values are solid. The cast are sincere, and James Oliver Wheatley gives a convincing portrayal of the devoted, impetuous Peter, heartsick at his own betrayal. Robert Knepper is also a suitably tortured Judas Iscariot. In addition, the decision to fill Caiaphas with envy of Christ’s spiritual gifts, not just his popularity, makes his character far more interesting.

Parents or church leaders considering this film for young viewers should take the PG-13 rating seriously. There are moments of peril, and creepy encounters with a demonic figure. In addition, the violence surrounding the death of Christ – his flogging and crucifixion are gruesome indeed.

I am definitely a harsh critic and some viewers will consider me unfairly so, but having spent forty five years reading my Bible, I’m a stickler for accuracy. That said, there are undoubtedly Christian viewers who will appreciate this film – and it’s a good way for non-Christians to learn the basics of the Easter story. Sometimes less is more and I wish this film had eschewed melodrama for a closer walk with the original tale. But I’d rather see a movie aim high and fall short than not try at all, so even this flawed production has something to offer.