The Nativity Story facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Nativity Story |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Catherine Hardwicke |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Mike Rich |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mychael Danna |
| Cinematography |
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| Editing by |
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| Studio | Temple Hill Entertainment |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | November 26, 2006 (Vatican City) December 1, 2006 (United States) |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English Hebrew |
| Budget | $35 million |
| Money made | $46.4 million |
The Nativity Story is a 2006 American drama film. It is based on the nativity of Jesus, which means the story of Jesus' birth. The film was directed by Catherine Hardwicke.
The main actors in the film include Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass, and Ciarán Hinds. The Nativity Story was first shown in Vatican City on November 26, 2006. It was the first film ever to have its world premiere there. The movie was released in the United States on December 1, 2006. It earned over $46 million around the world.
The Story of the Film
The movie begins in Judea, a Roman area. It shows a sad event where King Herod the Great ordered the killing of young boys. The rest of the film explains why King Herod (Ciarán Hinds) gave this terrible order. It tells the story of the annunciation (when Mary was told she would have a baby) and the birth of Jesus.
One year before these events, a priest named Zechariah (Stanley Townsend) was in Jerusalem. An angel named Gabriel (Alexander Siddig) appeared to him. Gabriel told Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son. Zechariah did not believe the angel because he and his wife were very old. Because of his doubt, Gabriel made Zechariah unable to speak until the baby was born.
In the town of Nazareth, a young woman named Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) was about 16 or 17 years old. She was working on her family's farm when Roman soldiers came to collect taxes. Mary was engaged to marry Joseph (Oscar Isaac), who was from Judea.
The Archangel Gabriel also visited Mary. He told her that she would become pregnant with God's son. She was to name him "Jesus." Gabriel also told Mary that her older cousin Elizabeth was also going to have a baby. Mary went to visit Elizabeth before the harvest season. While there, she saw the birth of John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Zechariah's son. When John was born, Zechariah was able to speak again.
Mary returned home from her visit, and she was pregnant. This was a big shock to Joseph and her parents. They worried that Joseph would accuse her of a serious sin. This could lead to severe punishment under their laws. At first, Joseph did not believe Mary's explanation that God was involved. However, he decided not to accuse her. Later, the Archangel Gabriel visited Joseph in a dream. Gabriel told him about God's plan for Mary's son. Joseph then believed and felt bad for doubting Mary.
Meanwhile, the Roman emperor Augustus ordered a census. This meant everyone in the Roman Empire had to return to their hometown. Joseph was a descendant of King David, so he had to travel to Bethlehem. This was his birthplace. Bethlehem was about 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Nazareth.
Mary and Joseph traveled across Judea's rocky land. Mary rode on a donkey, carrying their supplies. The journey took them almost four weeks. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary began to go into labor. Joseph quickly looked for a place for her to give birth. But all the inns and homes were full because of the census. Finally, an innkeeper offered them his stable for shelter.
At the same time, three wise men, called Magi, were traveling. They were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar (Stefan Kalipha, Nadim Sawalha, and Eriq Ebouaney). They had seen that three planets would line up to form a great star. This Star of Bethlehem appeared to them after a visit from the Archangel Gabriel. The Magi visited King Herod and told him that the Messiah was a child. They said this Messiah would be important to everyone, from the lowest to the highest. Herod was worried about a new king taking his throne. He asked the Magi to find the baby and tell him where he was. Herod pretended he wanted to worship the child, but he planned to kill him.
The Magi arrived at the stable where Mary was giving birth to Jesus. They gave the baby gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Magi suspected Herod's true intentions. So, they went home by a different route to avoid him. Herod realized the Magi had tricked him. He then ordered that every boy in Bethlehem under the age of two be killed. Joseph was warned in a dream about the danger. He quickly fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. The film ends as they escape.
Main Actors
- Oscar Isaac as Joseph
- Keisha Castle-Hughes as Mary
- Hiam Abbass as Anna
- Shaun Toub as Joachim
- Ciarán Hinds as Herod the Great
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elizabeth
- Stanley Townsend as Zechariah
- Alexander Siddig as the Angel Gabriel
- Eriq Ebouaney as Balthasar
- Alessandro Giuggioli as Herod Antipas
- Nadim Sawalha as Melchior
- Stefan Kalipha as Saint Caspar
Filming Locations
The film was shot in beautiful locations. These included Matera and Craco in Italy. Parts of the movie were also filmed in Ouarzazate, Morocco.
Music from the Film
The music for The Nativity Story was created by Mychael Danna. An album of his score was released on December 5, 2006. This album was nominated for a GMA Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year.
Another album was also released. It was called The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs. This album featured music from different artists. Some of the artists included Point of Grace, Amy Grant, and Jaci Velasquez.
See also
