The Gospel According to St. Matthew

Also known as Gospel According to St. Matthew, Il Vangelo secondo Matteo

1964 film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini

Film · TMDB

7.4

Along a rocky, barren coastline, Jesus begins teaching, primarily using parables. He attracts disciples; he's stern, brusque, and demanding. His parables often take on the powers that be, so he and his teachings come to the attention of the Pharisees, the chief priests, and elders. They conspire to have him arrested, beaten, tried, and crucified, just as he prophesied to his followers.

Released: 1965-03-03137 minDir: Pier Paolo PasoliniDrama

▶ Watch trailerStream on: Criterion Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel

Cast

Enrique Irazoqui as Cristo
Margherita Caruso as Maria (Giovane)
Susanna Pasolini as Maria (Vecchia)
Marcello Morante as Giuseppe
Mario Socrate as Giovanni Battista
Settimio Di Porto as Pietro

~22 min read

Article

The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Italian: Il Vangelo secondo Matteo) is a 1964 epic biblical drama film, written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. It is a cinematic rendition of the story of Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew, from the Nativity through the Resurrection.

In the neorealist tradition, the film employed a cast of mostly amateur actors, and was filmed entirely on-location throughout Southern Italy. The dialogue is taken directly from the Gospel of Matthew, as Pasolini felt that "images could never reach the poetic heights of the text." He reportedly chose Matthew's Gospel over the others because he felt "John was too mystical, Mark too vulgar, and Luke too sentimental."