Philip French 

The Gospel of Us – review

This filmed enactment of a Passion play in Port Talbot will be best appreciated by those who were there, writes Philip French
  
  

gospel of us
Jesus complex: Michael Sheen plays The Teacher in The Gospel of Us, a Passion play filmed in his home town, Port Talbot. Photograph: PR

I dislike demotic, populist renderings of the Bible such as this modernised Passion play in which Michael Sheen as "the Teacher" addresses God (a figure standing atop some council estate scaffolding) as "Dad", uses Peter's three ham sandwiches to feed a multitude, and conducts the Last Supper in a working men's club. It's a version of the play staged in and around Port Talbot by Dave McKean in Easter 2011, and I found it patronising and embarrassing. However, many people present thought it profoundly moving, and for this reason the film is an invaluable record of a significant occasion. To get to another movie last Tuesday I had to leave before the crucifixion, so for once I won't be accused of perpetrating a spoiler.

 

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